BayWa has received consent for its planning application to develop a battery energy storage system (BESS) in the UK in partnership with Grüne Energien Solar.
The 57MW/171 megawatt-hour Meadow Farm battery will be built in Stockton-on-Tees in north-east England.
It will help to stabilise the local electricity system by providing flexibility and supporting the wider deployment of renewable generation onto the grid, as well as ultimately supporting the UK’s move to a cleaner environment and a greener economy.
BayWa r.e. also identified several measures to improve local biodiversity, including planting native grassland, wildflowers, hedgerows and trees.
These measures will achieve a biodiversity net gain of more than 28% for habitats, and more than 14% for hedgerows.
BayWa r.e. UK managing director John Milligan said: “BESS facilities like Meadow Farm allow flexibility within the national electricity transmission, complementing renewable energy generation profiles.
“Having successfully secured planning approval for our first standalone BESS project in the UK reflects our ongoing dedication and growth in delivering innovative projects.”
Head of storage EMEA at BayWa r.e. Julian Gerstner added: “We are thrilled to bring our storage capabilities to the next level with our largest standalone storage project in the UK to date and one of our biggest in Europe.
“The development of large BESS projects – either connected with renewable energy plants or as stand-alone – demonstrates the full potential of green energy, bringing grid flexibility and stability, as well as contributing significantly to the acceleration of the energy transition.”