The world's largest BESS project is approved to convert a coal-fired power plant

A multifaceted clean technology project on the site of an old coal-fired power station in the UK will become home to the world’s largest battery energy storage system.

Carlton Power, an independent energy infrastructure development company in the UK, has received planning permission for what it calls the world's largest battery energy storage (BESS) project. The 1GW (1,040MW/2,080MWh) project will be located at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester. The company said the £750 million BESS project aims to strengthen the security and resilience of the energy system in Northwest England and support the region's energy transition and growth in renewable energy generation.

Planning permission for the BESS was granted by local planning authority Trafford Council.

Subject to a final investment decision, the project is expected to start construction in the first quarter of next year (2024) and enter commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2025. Carlton Power is in advanced negotiations with a number of parties for the financing, construction and operation of the Trafford BESS.

The Trafford BESS is Carlton Power’s second major energy project and is located on a 12-hectare site at the Trafford Low Carbon Park, eight miles south of Manchester. The other project is Carlton’s 200MW Trafford Green Hydrogen Project; the first phase (15-20MW) is also due to be put into commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2025.

In March 2023, the UK Department for Energy Security and Development (DESNZ) shortlisted the £50 million first phase of green hydrogen for financial support from the government’s Hydrogen Business Models/Net Zero Hydrogen Fund in the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1).

The Trafford Green Hydrogen (200MW) project was approved by Trafford Council in September 2022, making it the largest green hydrogen project in the UK. Carlton Power also recently received planning permission to build one of the UK’s first hydrogen pipelines in Trafford.

Highview Commercial Liquid Air Storage System

In addition to the two projects at Carlton Power, Highview Power Storage plans to build and operate the world’s first commercial liquid air storage system – a £250m, 250MWh long-duration cryogenic energy storage system – at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, which was the site of the Carrington coal-fired power station until 1991. The Low Carbon Park is close to the Manchester Ship Canal and the £750m Carrington flexible gas-fired power station, which opened in 2016.

Keith Clarke, founder and CEO of Carlton Power, said: “Carlton Power acquired the former coal-fired power station in 2008 with the intention of redeveloping the area into a new energy project. With the approval of the BESS, the total investment value of the site reaches £2 billion, which will bring significant economic benefits to Greater Manchester and help achieve regional net zero targets. Investment in the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park over the next 2-5 years demonstrates Carlton’s long-term vision and commitment to revitalising Trafford.”

(Original source: Global Energy Global Energy Storage Network, New Energy Network Comprehensive)