Swindon Council has been given the green light from its planning department to build a 50MW/50MWh battery storage scheme.
The scheme, on council owned ground, will be one of the UK’s largest standalone batteries if developed to the maximum permitted capacity.
Council-owned Public Power Solutions is now seeking developers to take on funding and construction of the project. It touts the site’s grid connection at a nearby substation as “very low cost”.
“The grid connection cost is very competitive, so this is a good opportunity for a developer looking for front of the meter battery storage opportunities that will enable them to generate an income in a variety of different ways, said Public Power Solutions’ Steve Cains.
“Local authorities are in a unique position to benefit from the growing demand for electricity storage, with diverse property portfolios and high energy consumption. We’re making it work at home here in Swindon but this project could be replicated in many other parts of the country, helping generate an income for the cash-strapped public sector.”
The project, designed to have a 30-year lifespan, will provide a long-term land rental income for Swindon Borough Council, should it successfully find a developer.
Councillor Toby Elliott said income from the scheme would help the council “protect vital services”.
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