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Plans to build the world’s largest battery energy storage scheme (BESS) in Manchester have been given the go ahead.
Trafford Council granted Carlton Power planning permission for the 1,040MW/2,080MWh battery project.
Worth £750 million, the project will be built at Carlton Power’s existing Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester.
Keith Clarke, founder and chief executive of Carlton Power, said: “Carlton Power acquired the former coal fired power station in 2008 to redevelop the site for new energy projects.
“With the approval of the BESS, this brings the total investment value of the site to £2 billion, which will deliver significant economic benefits to the Greater Manchester region and help to deliver the regional net zero targets.
“The investment in the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park over the next two to five years demonstrates Carlton’s long-term vision and commitment to re-energising the Trafford site.”
The current largest BESS is located in California. Built at the retired Moss Landing power plant site in California by Vistra Energy Corporation, the facility currently has a capacity of 400MW/1600MWh but is being expanded to 750MW/3,000MWh.
Subject to a final investment decision, construction of the battery storage scheme is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024, with it slated to enter commercial operation by the end of 2025.
Carlton Power said it is already in advanced talks with companies to finance, build and operate the Trafford BESS.
The Trafford BESS is Carlton Power’s second major energy project that has been consented for the c12 hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, eight miles south of Manchester. The other project is Carlton’s 200MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, which is also set to enter commercial operation in 2025.
Tom Ross, the leader of Trafford Council and Green City-Region lead for Greater Manchester, added: “The Trafford BESS, alongside the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, places Trafford and Greater Manchester at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition.
“The two schemes will help address our climate crisis – one of Trafford Council’s corporate priorities – and will support our region’s plan to reach a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038. I applaud Carlton Power’s long-term vision in developing the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.”
In addition to Carlton Power’s two projects, Highview Power Storage is planning to build and operate the world’s first commercial liquid air storage system – a 250MWh long duration, cryogenic energy storage system – on the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.
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