EDF Renewables UK has secured planning approval for three new grid-scale battery sites in Kent, Norwich and Essex which will support the transition to a decarbonised electricity system and accelerate the UK’s net zero ambitions. These developments are part of the company’s plans to deploy battery storage facilities in 40 strategic locations nationwide.
- The 50MW / 100 MWh lithium-ion battery storage facility near Sellindge, Kent, the latest project to receive planning approval, is expected to begin construction in early 2024, aiming to be operational by early 2025.
- The 114 MW / 228 MWh lithium-ion battery storage facility in Swainsthorpe, Norwich, was consented at the end of August 2023 and is expected to begin construction in early / late 2024. As well as supporting Norwich City Council’s nether ambitions, EDF Renewables UK will also improve biodiversity in the area by planting trees, new hedgerows and enhancing the existing pond on site.
- The 57 MW / 114 MWh lithium-ion battery storage facility in Braintree, Essex, is expected to begin construction in early 2024, with the aim of being connected to National Grid’s Braintree substation in October the same year. Once constructed, EDF Renewables UK will install a private wire for electric vehicle (EV) charging to futureproof the system for rapid charging hubs in the region.
National Grid forecasts suggest that the UK could need up to 35GW of electricity storage by 2050 to provide the flexibility needed to manage electricity supply and demand as the UK pivots to renewables. With the UK government setting ambitious targets to decarbonise the power system by 2035, demand for electricity expecting to increase by 50%, and electric vehicles needing to see a 21-fold increase on EVs on the road to meet net zero emissions by 2050, battery storage will become a key component in managing the country’s electricity system.
As of Q2 2023, total battery energy storage capacity in Great Britain reached up to 2.9GW, and this is forecasted to reach 4GW by the end of the year. Currently, EDF Renewables UK has two 50MW battery storage facilities operational in Kemsley and Oxford, with two more sites now under construction in the West Midlands. In total, EDF Renewables UK plans to deliver up to 2GW of transmission-connected battery storage and high-volume power connections through its nationwide rollout of Energy Superhubs. These Energy Superhubs will combine transmission-connected batteries and power infrastructure for EV charging, enabling more renewables and accelerating the decarbonisation of transport in the UK.
The Braintree and Norwich battery storage sites are also confirmed to be co-located with nearby solar projects, whilst a decision for co-location in Sellindge is expected later this year. If consented, all three projects will leverage the coupling of renewable sources with battery storage systems to help stabilise the UK energy grid and maximise the efficiency of the company’s renewable generation projects.
Matthew Boulton, Director of Solar, Storage and Private Wire at EDF Renewables UK said, “The approval of our Sellindge, Norwich and Braintree battery storage facilities is an active proofpoint for the growing momentum behind crucial flexibility technologies to manage the intermittency of renewables across the UK.”
