SSE Renewables has taken a final investment decision (FID) to proceed with the construction of a 320MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Monk Fryston, Yorkshire.
The 640MWh grid-scale battery is SSE Renewables’ third BESS development to reach this stage, following on from its 50MW Salisbury and 150MW Ferrybridge BESS sites.
Construction will begin in the coming months, SSE said.
The construction green-light for Monk Fryston is the latest milestone in solar and battery development for SSE Renewables, which has a secured 1.2GW pipeline of solar and battery projects, with a further 1.3GW under development.
The Monk Fryston site can run for up to two hours at a time and will be capable of storing power for release back to the UK national grid when it is needed the most – helping to manage peaks of energy demand.
In addition, the battery will be located next to National Grid’s substation in Monk Fryston.
By directly connecting the site to the existing transmission network without the need for additional grid infrastructure, SSE Renewables said it can minimise the built infrastructure impact on the surrounding environment.
Director of solar & battery at SSE Renewables Richard Cave-Bigley said: “It’s fantastic that we have taken a Final Investment Decision on the Monk Fryston BESS project, one of the largest battery storage projects in the UK.
“This is another positive step towards reaching our net zero targets, enabling us to provide stored energy to the grid and provide balancing energy supply to support intermittent renewable energy generation, and, in doing so, strengthening the UK’s energy security.”
“The project team has worked very hard to reach this landmark milestone and I’m looking forward to construction starting in the coming months.”