BACUP.

BACUP, LANCASHIRE.

Projects

Boom Power is constructing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on approximately 0.32 acres of land, located in Bacup, Lancashire, at the postcode OL13 0BW.

The project would provide capacity to store around 10 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy, allowing discharge of power for a period of up to 1 hour, for distribution to the grid. It is important to note that this project is non-subsidised, therefore, requires no government or public funding.

This site has been carefully selected as part of a detailed feasibility process. Consideration has been given to a number of things including: Residential amenity, grid capacity, environmental designations, cultural heritage, ecology, biodiversity, flood risk and agricultural quality. Detailed studies have been carried out by technical specialists to inform the final scheme design and respond to each of these points.

The project occupies a car park and an underutilised parcel of land within the Park Road Industrial Estate. The site is centrally situated within Bacup and is safeguarded for business, general industry or storage and distribution. The purpose of this is to maintain the Council’s industrial land supply and maximise opportunities for new economic investment with regards to business, general industry or storage and distribution. The storage scheme represents a significant economic investment and would support economic growth and prosperity within the energy sector. 

Project Selection

Detailed Feasibility Process

Planning Application Submission

Planning Application Decision

Construction

Operation

Project Selection

DETAILED FEASIBILITY PROCESS

PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMISSION

PLANNING APPLICATION DECISION

Construction

Operation

TECHNOLOGY.

Battery storage technology has a key part to play complementing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The complete battery system is extremely advanced with cutting edge technology, but when broken down, the individual lithium-ion battery cells are exceptionally similar to those found in many products, such as battery drills, battery hoovers and even battery cars, the difference being that there are many thousands / millions of them grouped and managed together.

Battery storage is either coupled to renewable energy sources or it is directly connected to the electricity network. This project is a stand alone facility directly connecting to the grid. At times when there is surplus electricity available, the batteries are charged, this allows the energy to be discharged or called upon by the electricity network on demand for both emergencies and grid balancing (keeping the grid stable, responding to sudden changes or fluctuations). Additionally this would be to simply meet the daily peak demand, usually around 6pm when most cookers, kettles and even 1st generation battery cars and chargers all start demanding electricity.

Features & Benefits.

The site lies within an industrial townscape and is centrally located within the Park Road Industrial Estate. The existing warehouse buildings fronting Park Road are the main visible features within the immediate townscape.

There would be limited potential for visibility of the application proposal from the surrounding landscape due to the established industrial use of the wider site, together with the extensive nearby woodland screening which limit views from the south and south east. Any limited views would be seen against the backdrop of the existing light industrial units that surround the application site.

The anticipated construction period will be approximately 4 months.

Battery storage technology has a key part to play complementing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Supporting the grid with frequency response and reactive power before, during and after a fault on the grid.

CLIMATE CHANGE & ECOLOGY.

A significant increase in renewable energy generation is supported by national and local planning policy and commitments. The UK Government has committed to reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

In addition to this, the Government had made a legal commitment to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. This will require a rapid and expanded deployment of low carbon power, supported by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). 

We recognise the importance of environmental protection and betterment as part of our commitment to operating sustainably and responsibly. We procure independent qualified ecologist advice to measure the biodiversity value of each project and to design enhancements to deliver a net biodiversity gain.