Q3 2023
Project Secured with Grid
Capacity to connect project into the grid network secured with Distribution Network Operator
Buxton Road BESS
- 20MW Capacity
- 355,000 Tonnes of carbon saved
- 60,000 Homes powered per hour
- 30 years Lifespan of project
Headquarters
Buxton Road, Wormhill, Dove Holes, Derbyshire, SK17 7HR
53°18`N 1°53´W
Emails
We are proposing to build a 20MW Battery Energy Storage System on Buxton Road, located northeast of Buxton
About the project
This project will provide essential services to the local electricity distribution network, ensuring a consistent supply of clean and cost-effective electricity for homes, businesses, and industries.
As the UK transitions to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, our BESS site will store energy from these renewables and release it when it’s most needed, helping to balance supply and demand.
The UK government estimates that battery storage systems, which facilitate the integration of low-carbon power and reduce the carbon and cost impact of operating the electricity network, could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion by 2050. This will ultimately help reduce energy bills for everyone.
Indicative timeline for Buxton Road BESS
FAQs
BESS sites are under frequent scrutiny regarding fire safety, due to the large quantities of lithium-ion batteries in a confined space. Fire mitigation is therefore at the forefront of considerations at all sites like this one. The National Fire Chiefs Council provide the following advice to all developers of BESS sites. The summary of fire safety measures are as follows:
- Engagement with local fire authority and planning authority with emergency response plans, fire water management strategies and fire safety management plans
- Separation distances or thermal barriers between all equipment, including the battery containers
- Fire detection, monitoring and prevention systems installed within all battery modules
- Sufficient ventilation (cooling fans) to maintain temperatures for all potential scenarios
- Water supply – onsite to meet the demand of the local fire authority, e.g. hydrants or water tanks
- Multiple access routes and space within compounds to ensure fire engines have access to and within the site
Grenergy have taken all advice on-board to produce a design which aligns with this guidance and is detailed in the documents submitted with the full planning application.
We are committed to minimizing traffic impacts during the construction period through careful route planning and traffic management. Once the site becomes operational, traffic will reduce significantly, averaging only 1–2 vans per week. A full Construction Transport Management Plan will accompany our planning application.
The batteries themselves produce very little noise, however, cooling fans are required to maintain the batteries at the correct temperature which emit some noise. With any planning application a detailed Noise Assessment is completed to ensure the plant causes no detriment to local sound levels.
Our BESS sites typically consist of shipping containers approximately 2.9 meters high. These containers can be easily screened using landscaping techniques like bunding, planting trees, and restoring hedgerows. The most visible part of the site is likely the electrical infrastructure at the onsite substation, which blends with the surrounding landscape.
We will submit a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment with our planning application to evaluate and address any visual impacts.
We are committed to delivering a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain through native planting, such as wildflowers, hedgerow restoration, and woodland installation to support local wildlife and habitats.
Additionally, we aim to establish a community benefit fund to support local causes and organizations, providing direct investment into the community.
Once planning consent is secured and we have the green-light from National Grid to proceed, then construction typically takes 9 months. The scheme would have an operational lifespan of 30 years before a decommissioning period of around 6 months, when the site will be returned to its previous use.
The concentration of similar projects in this area is due to the suitability of the Kitwell substation for accommodating such developments. The location of renewable energy projects, including BESS, solar, and wind, depends on the availability of connection points to the electricity network. As renewable energy development increases, so does the demand for BESS to store surplus energy, dispense it as needed, and enhance grid stability.
We chose this site because of its proximity to a viable connection point in the grid network, with Stalybridge offering the capacity for a timely and cost-effective connection. This directly impacts the affordability of electricity supplied to end users.
To identify the most suitable location for the project, we conducted a detailed site assessment of the area surrounding the National Grid substation. We evaluated several factors, including proximity to the national transmission system, potential impacts on sensitive receptors such as residential or ecological sites, planning restrictions, topography, and ground conditions. After thoroughly assessing all options, we determined that this site was the most appropriate in every respect.