Welcome to the information page for our proposed 100MW battery energy storage project near Burton Green, which Conrad Energy is proposing to construct and operate.
The project would facilitate the import and export of power to the electricity grid network.
The proposed location of the project is on land approximately 1km south of the existing Berkswell Substation, approximately 2km west of University of Warwick and approximately 2.5km from the edge of Kenilworth.
Connecting to the available grid capacity at Berkswell Substation, it would provide cost-effective, flexible energy during peak electricity periods or times of system stress. Batteries also provide frequency services that help stabilise the grid network. As demand for clean electricity grows, battery storage projects like this one are vital in providing flexibility to the grid.
The location of the project is shown below or can be viewed on what3words’ interactive map here ///herbs.decide.excuse
The proposed development is located in Burton Green, within the county of Warwickshire however, due to local planning authority county lines, the planning application will be submitted to Solihull District Council.
In Warwickshire’s 2023 Sustainable Futures Strategy, the council laid out its ambitious aims:
“This means adapting to and mitigating against climate change, reducing our carbon emissions to net zero across the Council by 2030 and supporting Warwickshire as a county to do the same by 2050 or earlier.”
Solihull District Council has also pledged to achieve net zero emissions for the council by 2030 and for the Borough by 2041.
Conrad Energy is excited to be working with such forward thinking and proactive authorities, aligned with our vision of a world powered by a sustainable net zero energy system.
Project key facts
- The 100MW of storage of the site could meet the average electricity needs of 650,000 homes for 2 hours (assumes 2700kWh/yr average usage per household).
- The project would consist of containerised battery storage units that are able to store power and deliver energy for up to 2 hours.
- The site would cover approximately 6 acres, which includes 2 acres of developable land, subject to detailed design and incorporating mitigation and ecological enhancement.
- There is a viable grid connection in proximity to the site with space to connect new electricity storage.
- Conrad Energy plan to utilise the existing access track through the farm, off the public highway, removing the need to build a new point of access.
- With suitable and sensitive design, this project would have a low impact on the local area. For example, the design of the site includes proposed tree planting and screening, with the site being significantly enhanced for local ecology and delivering Biodiversity Net Gain. This is likely to include a range of measures including ecological enhancement and benefits.
- The development is fully reversible and would be fully restored to its existing condition on cessation of operations.
What happens next?
It’s important to us that the local community are informed of our current proposals for the site and can give us their feedback.
We held a public consultation event on Wednesday 10 July 2024 in Burton Green Village Hall. At the event you could talk to the project team, see our proposals in more detail, and give us your feedback.
Project timeline
Summer 2024
Planning submission
Summer 2025
Planning decision
Autumn 2026
Commence construction
Autumn 2027
Energisation
FAQs
Several factors have led to the recent and ongoing challenges related to the supply, demand, and cost of energy in the UK. The energy crisis has led to increased living costs for households, financial strain on businesses, and significant political and public debate about the best path forward to ensure energy security, affordability, and sustainability in the UK.
For a clean, affordable and secure energy future the UK needs more renewables at home, and more storage – and it needs them quickly.
The UK’s energy transition involves shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy to meet climate goals. This includes increasing renewable power such as wind and solar,, enhancing energy efficiency, and investing in modern infrastructure. Challenges include managing high costs, ensuring supply stability, and overcoming regulatory hurdles. The transition aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy security, and create a sustainable future, amidst rising energy prices and global supply chain disruptions.
The UK’s climate change ambitions are amongst the highest in Europe and require us as a nation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The British Energy Security Strategy (April 2022) set a target that ‘By 2030, 95 per cent of British electricity could be low-carbon; and by 2035, we will have decarbonised our electricity system’. More renewable energy generation and battery storage is needed to meet these targets.
Battery energy storage is critical to achieving net zero in the UK and battery projects are vital in providing flexibility and services to the grid. For us all to benefit from clean energy, we must be able to store and then distribute it during times of peak demand. Renewables are the cheapest new energy generating technology, as well as being quick to deploy. But if the rapid transition to renewable energy is going to be achieved, battery storage is key.
As more renewables generate our power, we need greater flexibility in the grid. The wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine, so we need batteries to balance the system. Storage can help make the most of green energy, using it to manage peaks and troughs in demand and operate the electricity system as efficiently as possible – keeping costs down too. This will become more and more important as the demand for clean electricity grows. According to National Grid’s Future Energy Scenario for 2021, up to 13GW of electricity storage will be required in the UK by 2030 to support the increased installation of renewable generation.
This depends on the design of the specific site, but typically the batteries are housed in containers, which need to be installed on a level platform. These are then enclosed by fencing to maintain security. Our proposals always seek to retain any existing trees and hedgerows around the site and are designed to fit into the area sensitively. As part of the planned design, comprehensive landscaping such as tree planting or bunds help to ensure that there is minimal impact on the local area.
When we assess the feasibility of a site, we carefully look at a wide range of factors such as the local landscape, site access, ecology, connection to the grid to identify and address any potential impacts the scheme may have on the local area. We always aim for our battery energy storage schemes to have a low impact on the local area and a high impact in grid stability.
The energy storage process does not have any sound emissions associated with it. But to make sure the batteries remain at the correct temperature; a series of cooling fans are used. As part of a planning application a background noise survey would normally be conducted which would model and then assess any levels of noise.
Each application is assessed individually and where required a flood risk assessment completed to support a planning submission. This will assess whether there are any potential impacts and incorporate mitigation as necessary to ensure there is no increased flood risk from the development.
As with anything we do, safety is fundamental. In designing and selecting equipment for the site, we ensure that all safety standards and legislative requirements are met. The battery storage modules are designed to have a very low risk of failure, and an even lower risk that any failure would result in an incident. Our battery storage projects are built and operated in line with industry best practice, with multiple layers of prevention and protection systems that minimise risk. Fire detection, monitoring and fire prevention equipment is installed in all the battery storage modules and onsite.
As part of the planning submission, we will provide details on the access route and number of predicted vehicle movements. The main impact would be during the initial phase of the construction works, when there would be a number of HGV movements. A Construction Traffic Management Plan is typically provided to support the planning process, setting out how we will manage and control vehicle movements to minimise any impact. Once operational, there will be negligible traffic movements as the site is monitored remotely with maintenance visits approximately every two weeks by a 4×4 or van.
With all of our projects we want to make a positive contribution and enhance local ecology wherever we can. To achieve this an ecological survey is conducted to identify the conditions onsite. This informs our proposals and design. We look to incorporate a range of ecological enhancements. For example, it might include bird and bat boxes, bug hotels, tree planting and grass meadows. Local knowledge and feedback can play an important part in this.
The development is fully reversible and would be fully restored to its existing condition on cessation of operations.
Tell us what you think
We’d like to hear your feedback to help us shape our plans. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Email: burtongreen@conradenergy.co.uk
Post: Burton Green c/o Conrad Energy, Suites D&E Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY