Scottish company InterGen has been granted consent by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to build the country’s largest battery energy storage facility on the banks of the Thames River in Essex, England.
The 320MW/640 megawatt-hour DP World London Gateway project could ultimately deliver 1.3GWh of power, the company said.
It added that, when fully charged, the battery could power up to 300,000 homes for two hours.
However, it will mostly be used to support and stabilise existing electricity supplies.
Construction is likely to start in 2022, with the battery plant becoming operational in 2024.
InterGen is also exploring a further large battery project at a site in Spalding, Lincolnshire, which would be 175MW/350MWh.
The planning permissions are already in place for this, the company said.
InterGen chief executive Jim Lightfoot said: “We are delighted to have been granted consent by BEIS for the Gateway project.
“Our mission is to deliver the flexible electricity solutions that everyone relies on in a low-carbon world, and this project is a major statement of intent.
“We are excited to be entering a new phase in our growth as an organisation, and will continue to explore opportunities to develop projects which can support the energy transition.”
An impression of the facility is pictured.