Shuttleworth Battery Storage
Renewable Connections Developments is investigating the potential for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) up to 100MW near Padiham, Burnley. Once operational, the BESS will enable energy from renewables such as solar and wind to be stored and released when customers need power the most. This will help to tackle the climate emergency in Burnley by increasing the utility and reliability of renewable energy sources, allowing such sources to comprise a larger part of the local energy mix.
- Battery storage has a key role to play in ensuring homes and businesses can be powered by renewable energy sources, even when the sun is not shining or when the wind is not blowing.
- Batteries can help to manage the peaks and troughs of energy demand, supporting a more stable and reliable national electricity grid that is capable of delivering the transition to decarbonised transport and heating needed to meet the country’s net zero goals.
- The UK Government estimates that the implementation of flexible technologies like battery energy storage systems could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion in operating costs by 2050, which will help to reduce individual energy bills – Battery storage boost to power greener electricity grid – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We are hosting a virtual consultation events
on Tuesday 4th March 2025 from 6pm – 7pm.
To receive the Microsoft Teams link to the
event, please register your interest by emailing
shuttleworthbess@renewableconnections.co.uk
before 6pm 26th February 2025.
We welcome any feedback you wish to provide so please do get in touch
LOCATION
The site proposed for Shuttleworth House Farm Battery Storage comprises approximately 1.8 hectares of land located south of Padiham, Burnley. The site is located circa 2km south west of Padiham Town Centre and 0.6km north west of Hapton Village Centre.
OUR PROPOSALS
If consented and installed, the BESS would provide storage for up to 100MW of electricity storage and will be operational for up to 40 years. After that time, all of the installations will be removed in its entirety and the land will be restored to its previous use.
The Shuttleworth BESS facility will include state-of-the-art Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery technology comprising battery storage modules aligned in rows supported by transformer and inverter platforms. The height of the battery storage modules will be less than 3m.
The transformer and inverter platforms will be connected via underground cables to the on-site point of connection. A 2.1m high perimeter security fence will enclose the site, and will include free-standing CCTV cameras with infrared lighting pointing inwards towards the site only to ensure the safety and protection of the BESS equipment.
PROJECT TIMELINE
STAGE 1
Site selection
Spring 2024
STAGE 2
Pre-application
Autumn 2024
STAGE 3
Community Consultation
Spring 2025
STAGE 4
Planning Application
Summer 2025
STAGE 5
Construction
Winter 2026
THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT
Following the Government’s declaration of an “Environment and Climate Emergency” in May 2019, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) advised that to meet ‘Net Zero’ targets, the UK will require substantial amounts of new, low carbon power sources to be built before 2050, up to four times that of today’s levels. Energy storage systems are essential for achieving these goals and National Grid estimates that over 100 GWh of energy storage will be required to meet UK’s net zero target by 2050. Currently there is only approximately 4 GWh of energy storage in existence in the UK.
Burnley Borough Council declared a “climate emergency” in 2019 and has since committed to making the Borough carbon neutral by 2030. The Council set out its climate change strategy earlier in 2022 and has started to implement the commitments it made.
Battery storage, together with renewable energy generation can help support the target of 50% of energy for the UK’s heat, transport, and electricity consumption to be supplied from renewable sources by 2030.
BESS’s can react rapidly to sudden changes in the electricity supply and demand securing the stability of the network by using intelligent software to co-ordinate energy production and to decide when to store or release energy to the national grid to meet peak demand. This improves the stability of the grid network and allows stored renewable energy to be used even when the conditions for generation are not being met.
FAQ’s
How do battery energy storage systems work?
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can be charged by electricity generated from renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, which only produce energy under certain conditions. BESS use intelligent software to co-ordinate energy production and to decide when to store or release energy to the national grid to meet peak demand. This improves the stability of the grid network and allows stored renewable energy to be used even when the conditions for generation are not being met.
Why not use nuclear power instead of battery storage?
Whilst nuclear power stations are able to generate a large and consistent amount of electricity for baseload operation, they are very expensive to build and operate and are unable to react quickly to fast-changing grid fluctuations. On the other hand, BESS is able to respond to changes in the grid quickly and makes it possible for cheap renewable energy to be used during times when it wouldn’t normally be possible. For this reason, to improve the stability of the grid network and to facilitate the transition to net zero it makes more sense to invest in BESS rather than nuclear power.
Why this location?
This site has been identified following an extensive site selection process which considered environmental designations, local electricity network access and capacity, the physical characteristics of the site, and the need for a supportive landowner.
Will there be any impacts on local roads?
For a period of approximately 24 weeks during construction, there will be deliveries of equipment to site. Renewable Connections will put in place measures to manage impacts of construction traffic and these measures will be included in a Construction Traffic Management Plan that will submitted with the planning application. There will be infrequent maintenance visits to the site during operation.
Will there be any permanent impact?
No – the battery site would operate for a period of up to 40 years, following which the site would be fully decommissioned and returned to its pre-existing use.
Do batteries pose a health risk?
No – LFP batteries (or Lithium Iron Phosphate) will be used in the Shuttleworth BESS. LFP batteries are thermally and chemically stable, with no risk of fumes or gas leaks. They are made of abundant, non-toxic materials like iron, copper and graphite so have a lower environmental impact from mining, processing and recycling.
Are the batteries noisy?
No – while BESS’ do generate some low-level electrical noise from the inverter, switchgear, and fan equipment this noise is not perceptible beyond the site boundaries and would not have an adverse impact on any nearby residential receptors. To demonstrate this, a Noise Impact Assessment will be submitted as part of any future planning application.
Are the batteries safe?
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 a fire. In the unlikely event that a fire does occur, both fire detection and fire prevention equipment is installed in all the battery storage modules to ensure that any fires remain under control. All modules will also be equipped with an inert gas suppression system designed to extinguish any fires that are detected by the monitoring system.
GET IN TOUCH
shuttleworthbess@renewableconnections.co.uk
0800 254 5011
Shuttleworth Energy Centre Limited,
Level 4, LDN:W,
3 Noble Street,
London,
EC2V 7EE
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