Bassetlaw District Council has granted planning permission for a 500MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Nottinghamshire.
The project, which would be developed by West Burton Energy who recently secured a 2.9GWh BESS project from Banks Renewables, would increase the total operational BESS capacity in the UK by 21%.
The BESS project will be developed on the site of the former West Burton A coal-fired power plant which closed at midnight 31 March 2023.
Consultancy DWD provided all planning services and collaborated with AECOM to navigate the approach to biodiversity net gain and the updated PPG guidance concerning BESS.
According to a statement, this included engaging with the Fire and Rescue Service to address their concerns whilst preserving the flexibility delivered by the application.
In other BESS news, Solar Power Portal reported in early December that Bluefield Renewable Developments received planning permission for a 49.9MW solar farm, co-located with a 60MW BESS.
Located on a former open cast coal mining site in Bedlington, near the renewable energy developers 49.9MW Burnt House solar farm, the Broadway House Farm will be the company’s third solar project in Northumberland.