SSE Renewables has selected OCU Energy and Fluence for the 150MW/300 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Fiddler's Ferry in Warrington, Cheshire, UK.
Stockport-based OCU Energy has been appointed as the principal contractor for the project.
The company previously collaborated with SSE Renewables on a project at Ferrybridge.
Energy storage technology supplier Fluence will supply the battery-based energy storage system for the Fiddler's Ferry project.
SSE Renewables solar and battery director Richard Cave-Bigley stated: “We are delighted to be working with OCU Energy once again, and to have Fluence Energy as our battery supplier at Fiddler’s Ferry.
“Battery storage systems like Fiddler’s Ferry will be key in the UK’s transition to net zero and I am looking forward to seeing the project progress through construction in the coming months.”
The construction phase is scheduled to begin in spring 2024.
The project will occupy 3.5ha of land at the site of the former coal-fired power station owned by SSE, which was decommissioned in March 2020.
The site's transformation began with the demolition of its cooling towers at the end of 2023.
OCU Energy chief operating officer Vince Bowler stated: “We are proud to be delivering this contract for SSE Renewables and providing valuable energy storage in the north-west. Working on energy transition schemes like this regionally and nationally moves us closer to net zero.”
Fluence Energy UK managing director Brian Perusse stated: “Fluence is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy storage systems that advance the energy transition and we are proud to work with SSE Renewables on this highly significant project.
“Fluence has a track record of operating systems with high performance levels, and we are committed to doing the same for Fiddler's Ferry.”
In February 2024, SSE Renewables began construction on the 64MW Jubera onshore wind farm in Spain, representing the company's first venture into the Spanish onshore wind market.
Civil engineering work is under way in the La Rioja region, with the wind farm expected to become operational by the end of 2025.
In November 2023, the company reached a final investment decision (FID) on a 320MW BESS project in Monk Fryston, Yorkshire, UK.
The project has a capacity of 320MW/640MWh and is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. It is the third to reach the FID stage after the 50MW Salisbury and 150MW Ferrybridge battery energy storage projects.
