The Anonymous Widower

Carlton Power Secures Planning Consent For World’s Largest Battery Energy Storage Scheme

The title of this post, is the same as that of this news story from Carlton Power.

This is the sub-heading.

£750m 1GW Battery Project To Be Built At Carlton Power’s Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park In Greater Manchester

These three paragraphs outline the project.

Carlton Power, the UK independent energy infrastructure development company, has secured planning permission for the world’s largest battery energy storage scheme (BESS), a 1GW (1040MW / 2080MWh) project located at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester. The £750m BESS scheme will strengthen the security and resilience of the energy system in the North West of England, and support the energy transition and the growth of renewable power generation in the region.

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

Subject to a final investment decision, construction of the battery storage scheme is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year (2024) with it entering commercial operation in the final quarter of 2025. Carlton Power is in advanced talks with companies to finance, build and operate the Trafford BESS.

I have a few thoughts.

It’s A Monster

This Wikipedia entry, lists the World’s Largest Grid Batteries.

• The current largest is Vistra Moss Landing battery in the United States, which has a capacity of 1600 MWh and an output of 400 MW.
• The Trafford BESS will have a capacity of 2080 MWh and an output of 1040 MW.

By both measures the Trafford BESS is larger.

Where Will It Get The Energy?

Consider.

• In Liverpool and Morecambe Bays there is over 5 GW of offshore wind farms either operational, under construction or planned.
• Carrington gas-fired power station has a capacity of 884 MW.
• The Western HVDC Link is a 2250 MW link between Scotland and Connah’s Quay in North Wales.
• I wrote about the proposed Mersey Barrage in Mersey Tidal Project And Where It Is Up To Now.

I can see enough renewable energy being generated to replace Carrington gas-fired power station.

Who Will Finance, Build And Operate The Trafford BESS?

There are two major Energy Storage Funds in the UK.

• Gore Street with 27 projects totalling 1.17 GW.
• Gresham House with 17 projects totalling 425 MW.

Note.

1. There are other smaller funds.
2. The figures given are cumulative outputs for the portfolios.
3. Sourcing the large number of batteries might be a problem.
4. As the maths of these batteries are now well-known, I would expect that finance shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
5. Local companies like Liverpool Victoria or Peel Holdings could even take a position.

A large American contractor backed by US money could swallow the whole project.

That happened with North Sea oil and gas in the last century.

Is Highview Power’s CRYOBattery Still Planned?

Carlton Power’s news story says this about Highview Power’s plans.

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

It seems that the CRYOBattery is still planned.

Conclusion

Manchester is getting a powerful zero-carbon hub.

July 24, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage | Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Carlton Power, Carrington Power Station, CRYOBattery, Gore Street Energy Storage Fund, Gresham House, Highview Power, Lithium-Ion Battery, Mersey Tidal Power, Trafford BESS, Trafford Energy Park