Marston Seeney

Battery Energy Storage System

Providing Energy Security for North Warwickshire

Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) has secured full planning permission by North Warwickshire Borough Council for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land West of Marston Fields Farm, Kingsbury Road, Birmingham, B76 0BY.

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Where is the planned BESS?

Why do we need BESS?

BESS allow renewable energy to be efficiently stored and supplied to the grid when it’s needed. With BESS we can use renewable energy to power our homes and businesses when the wind stops blowing and the sun isn’t shining. BESS facilities store electricity when demand is low or there is over-supply and release it back to the grid when demand is high. Moreover, they can provide ‘system security’, supplying energy during electricity outages, thus minimising disruption and costs.

Draft Government Policy (EN-1) makes clear that energy storage has a key role to play in achieving Net Zero and providing flexibility to the energy system, so that high volumes of low carbon power, heat and transport can be integrated. The National Grid estimates that over 100GWh of energy storage will be required to meet the UK’s Net Zero target by 2050. By 2035 demand for grid energy storage is expected to rise by 20GWh.

Benefits of Marston Seeney BESS

It will assist North Warwickshire Borough Council in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with local and national targets in response to the Climate Emergency.

It will contribute towards the security of energy supply in North Warwickshire through the provision of local, renewable electricity and battery storage.
Introducing BESS into the energy mix allows the electricity network to “balance” generation against demand, supporting the UK’s urgent need for energy security.
Demand for grid energy storage is expected to rise by 20GWh by 2035. Marston Seeney BESS will help with supplying this demand and aid the UK’s transition to a low carbon future.
It would help the National Grid to use renewable energy to power our homes and businesses when there’s minimal wind and no daylight.

It will provide flexibility through rapid charge or discharge of electricity to allow the National Grid to regulate electricity supply and demand whilst minimising greenhouse gas emissions.

This is a temporary development, allowing the land to rest for a period of operation up to 40 years.
Decommissioning and full restoration of the site at the end of life of the development will be secured via planning condition.
The proposed BESS will not require Government subsidy.
There will be minimal noise associated with the BESS. A noise assessment will be undertaken to identify potential noise implications and to propose mitigation measures if they are deemed necessary.

About Us

PACE was established in 2017 as a global developer and investor in clean energy and brings together over 85 years of experience from across the technical and financial supply chain.

We are working with the National Grid to develop a portfolio of strategically located solar photovoltaic and battery storage installations that ensure low carbon electricity is delivered when and where it is most needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Battery energy storage sites are not usually audible above ambient noise- levels. A full noise assessment has been conducted for the site and the project design will include a raised earth and landscaped area to the north of the proposed infrastructure to mitigate the already low levels of noise.
The BESS is a temporary development and will not change the land classification. When the BESS has been decommissioned, the consent will require the land to be restored to its previous purpose. This means the site remains classified as agricultural greenfield and does not become previously developed ‘brownfield’ land in policy terms.
Once operational the BESS facility will have a low-impact presence with only the occasional operations and maintenance visit. The only period with potential traffic impact is during the short-term temporary construction phase, which is estimated to take between 6-8 months.

The battery enclosures are specifically engineered to guarantee secure operation throughout the project’s lifespan. Advanced safety measures, including continuous monitoring of individual battery cells, are in place to promptly address any potential concerns and manage operations for utmost safety.
Battery energy storage systems are designed to adhere to stringent safety standards established by international regulatory bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). These comprehensive standards encompass various facets of battery storage systems, including installation, operation, and maintenance, to ensure their compliance with the highest safety protocols.
As part of the proposals, we intend to give over a large portion of the site to environmental enhancements.
Benefits will primarily come from resting the land as well as through providing species-rich grassland ground cover with wildflowers to support pollinators, planting new areas of woodland, adding new hedgerows, and improving the density and species diversity of existing hedgerows. Targeted waterside planting will also make a positive contribution to water quality.
The Lithium-Ion batteries that will be used in the project are not reliant on scarce raw materials. There are established recycling processes for recovering the most common elements used in battery construction - cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese - for re-use.

Public Consultation Event

You are invited to our public consultation event which will be taking place on Tuesday 17th September 2024 at Lea Marston Hotel, Haunch Lane, Lea Marston, Sutton Coldfield, B76 0BY (2pm - 7pm)