Our most commonly asked questions
The role and importance of battery storage is key to stabilising the grid and ensuring the efficient use of renewable energy to power UK homes and businesses. The way electricity is generated has been evolving over the past 20 years, with an increasing amount being supplied from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
Battery storage assists grid operators by working flexibly, storing electricity at times of peak renewable generation and discharging that energy during times when demand is greatest. The concept of BESS is supported both nationally and internationally as an approach to decarbonisation.
Our development journey begins with the search for available grid capacity at key substation locations around the country. Nearby land is then identified for development with careful consideration for the local environment and community after a detailed feasibility study.
We always strive to minimise the impact on the local population and on the landscape, by taking advantage of natural screening from the topography of the land, trees and hedgerows; enhancing these where possible, as well as positioning the systems away from residential properties.
As a concept, battery storage acts as a decarbonisation enabler: allowing the deployment of more renewable energy such as offshore wind onto the grid, by helping to match supply with demand!
This is done by absorbing over-production of electricity when the supply is greater than the demand, for example during periods of high winds, then discharging that energy back onto the system when it is required such as at times of under-supply or when demand peaks.
These projects make a big contribution in meeting the UK’s Net Zero targets, whilst increasing energy security and reducing reliance on imported power or gas from other countries to meet shortfalls in production.
As long-standing promotors of renewable energy as well as protection and enhancement of the natural world, providing local biodiversity enhancement is core to our development ethos.
A typical project will bring a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits for the local area and we believe that the communities hosting our projects should share in these benefits. We make it our business to invite comments, answer queries and would love to hear from you on what these benefits could be.
Fire risk is a topic high on the agenda of most Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), consultees and stakeholders, including our own insurers.
All of our batteries are certified to the latest international standards, designed to prevent thermal runaway and fires from starting. 24/7 monitoring, fire suppression systems and adequate spacing between containers are also common in designs to ensure site safety.
The planning application for a BESS scheme will include an Outline Battery Safety Management Plan which will detail how safety will be managed on each site.
During the construction and decommissioning phases there will be an increase in vehicles used to deliver and remove equipment and materials on the roads. However, minimising the impact of construction traffic is an important part of the consultation with the planning authority and highways. A Construction Traffic Management Plan will accompany the planning application and set out how this will be achieved.
Once the BESS is operational, the number and size of vehicles will significantly reduce as only maintenance visits will be made to site.
The role and importance of battery storage is key to stabilising the grid and ensuring the efficient use of renewable energy to power UK homes and businesses. The way electricity is generated has been evolving over the past 20 years, with an increasing amount being supplied from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
Battery storage assists grid operators by working flexibly, storing electricity at times of peak renewable generation and discharging that energy during times when demand is greatest. The concept of BESS is supported both nationally and internationally as an approach to decarbonisation.
Our development journey begins with the search for available grid capacity at key substation locations around the country. Nearby land is then identified for development with careful consideration for the local environment and community after a detailed feasibility study.
We always strive to minimise the impact on the local population and on the landscape, by taking advantage of natural screening from the topography of the land, trees and hedgerows; enhancing these where possible, as well as positioning the systems away from residential properties.
As a concept, battery storage acts as a decarbonisation enabler: allowing the deployment of more renewable energy such as offshore wind onto the grid, by helping to match supply with demand!
This is done by absorbing over-production of electricity when the supply is greater than the demand, for example during periods of high winds, then discharging that energy back onto the system when it is required such as at times of under-supply or when demand peaks.
These projects make a big contribution in meeting the UK’s Net Zero targets, whilst increasing energy security and reducing reliance on imported power or gas from other countries to meet shortfalls in production.
As long-standing promotors of renewable energy as well as protection and enhancement of the natural world, providing local biodiversity enhancement is core to our development ethos.
A typical project will bring a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits for the local area and we believe that the communities hosting our projects should share in these benefits. We make it our business to invite comments, answer queries and would love to hear from you on what these benefits could be.
Fire risk is a topic high on the agenda of most Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), consultees and stakeholders, including our own insurers.
All of our batteries are certified to the latest international standards, designed to prevent thermal runaway and fires from starting. 24/7 monitoring, fire suppression systems and adequate spacing between containers are also common in designs to ensure site safety.
The planning application for a BESS scheme will include an Outline Battery Safety Management Plan which will detail how safety will be managed on each site.
During the construction and decommissioning phases there will be an increase in vehicles used to deliver and remove equipment and materials on the roads. However, minimising the impact of construction traffic is an important part of the consultation with the planning authority and highways. A Construction Traffic Management Plan will accompany the planning application and set out how this will be achieved.
Once the BESS is operational, the number and size of vehicles will significantly reduce as only maintenance visits will be made to site.
