SSE Renewables’ first battery energy storage system (BESS) project has reached a significant milestone, with all 26 battery units successfully installed at the site in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The 50MW project is being delivered in conjunction with Wartsila.
The site is scheduled to be fully operational in early 2024.
Installation took place over a three-week period and was carried out by King Lifting.
The battery units were carefully lowered down onto the concrete foundations in four modular sections via crane.
It follows SSE Renewables starting construction of its second battery storage site – a 150MW project in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire – with more projects set to be rolled out as part of the company’s significant solar and battery pipeline.
Richard Cave-Bigley, SSE Renewables solar & battery director, said: “It’s fantastic to have completed the installation of the battery units at Salisbury as we edge ever closer to energisation of our first battery storage project.
“The team have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and we are looking forward to the site going live so that we can start to provide flexible, renewable energy to the grid.”
Chris Lloyd, SSE Renewables senior project manager at Salisbury, added: “All 26 batteries have been successfully installed on site and it’s great to reach this milestone on the project.
“Our next step is to reach energisation which should later this year, with the site due to be fully operational at the beginning of next year.
“It’s exciting to be involved on our first battery storage project and we are now very close to delivering SSE Renewables’ first live battery energy storage system project.”
SSE Renewables is progressing a 1.2GW secured pipeline of solar and battery projects across the UK and Ireland; with a further 1.3GW of other prospective sites under development.