Developer Elements Green wins planning consent for 360MW/720MWh UK BESS project

By Kit Million Ross
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Plan of Elements Green’s proposed 800MWac Great North Road solar project that would also connect to the same substation at Staythorpe as the 360MW BESS. Image: Elements Green

Solar and energy storage developer Elements Green has secured planning permission for its Staythorpe battery energy storage system (BESS) in the East Midlands region of the UK.

The project will have a 360MW peak and a storage capacity of 720MWh, and has a planned operational life of 40 years. Elements Green has set a target date of 2026 for the system to become operational.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The plans include several elements aimed at benefiting the community. These include more than 12 acres of land dedicated to woodland creation and wildflower meadows, planting 129 trees, and creating a new permissive footpath through the site. The site is expected to bring a biodiversity net gain of at least 25.7%.

Elements Green executive chairman Mark Turner commented: “Securing planning permission is a remarkable achievement for our team. We are preparing to begin construction and bring our vision to life, creating not only a state-of-the-art energy storage solution but also making a positive contribution to the local environment with additional planting and the creation of a permissive path. Through its connection into the existing national grid substation at Staythorpe, the project builds on the Trent Valley’s long history of powering the UK.”

“We are excited about the future and the positive impact this project will have on our organisation and the broader community,” Turner said.

“The UK Government has set ambitious and legally binding targets to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050. More renewable energy is needed to fast-track away from fossil fuels, and energy storage and large-scale solar development are recognised as having an important role in achieving this.”

The UK has been ranked the world’s third most attractive country for BESS development in Ernst & Young’s (EY’s) latest edition of its Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI), and major investment into the sector has been on the rise.

This story first appeared on Solar Power Portal.

Read Next

May 20, 2025
Battery storage developers and owner-operators Eku, Alcemi, Field and Energy Optimisation Solutions (EOS) make UK project progress with finance and planning approvals.
May 16, 2025
The battery storage arm of Canadian Solar expects to make between 7GWh and 9GWh of shipments this year, with the final figure dependent on trade policy developments.
Premium
May 15, 2025
Despite new state incentives for energy storage in New York, some independent power producers (IPP) are still struggling to make progress in the face of local opposition, permitting hurdles and moratoriums.
May 12, 2025
The Q2 2025 edition of our downstream solar PV journal, PV Tech Power, is now available to download for subscribers of ESN Premium.
Premium
May 9, 2025
Standalone BESS proposal from Engie has reached a permitting milestone in the California Energy Commission’s Opt-In Certification Program.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter