Balance Power has received planning approval for a new 99 MW/99 MWh battery storage facility in Iron Acton, South Gloucestershire.
The development is designed to store excess renewable energy and deliver it to the grid during high demand periods, with Balance Power noting that it will support around 26,700 households.
The project was approved by South Gloucestershire through a delegated decision, following community consultation. Adjustments were made to the project’s design, scale, and location to align with community standards and expectations.
The Iron Acton facility, covering 2.3 hectares and consisting of 19 battery units, is expected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately 18,300 tonnes annually, and is strategically located near the Iron Acton Grid Supply Point (GSP). That’s notable for connecting 120 MW of solar and wind energy, with plans for an additional 750 MW of solar energy.
A 100 MW grid connection has already been secured at the Iron Acton GSP. Construction timelines are still under discussion, with efforts being made to accelerate the project’s completion from the initially planned energisation in June 2036.
The project also features a biodiversity enhancement plan, aiming for a 10% increase in habitat units and a 119% increase in hedgerow units.
Oliver Pettersen, Connections Manager at Balance Power, commented, “Securing planning permission for Iron Acton is a significant milestone and is set to make a sizeable impact on local clean energy reliability.
“With extensive solar development in the Iron Acton area, this project will be pivotal for managing excess power generation and more broadly for balancing out the supply and demand of renewable energy, helping to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
“Due to the size and scale of the project, it also marks a big step forward for the UK’s transition to net zero, which depends upon battery storage projects that provide stability for a decarbonised grid.
“We’re grateful for the support from South Gloucestershire and the community – it’s due to our collective efforts and close collaboration that we’ve reached this brilliant outcome.”