SSE Renewables has broken ground to build a 150MW/300MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in West Yorkshire, England.

Located in Ferrybridge, the BESS facility is being developed at a former coal-fired plant that was decommissioned in 2016 by SSE.

SSE Renewables solar and battery director Richard Cave-Bigley stated: “We’re breaking new ground with our first battery at an existing SSE site.

“Ferrybridge used to be a coal site, but today we’ve evolved to building a 150MW flexible battery asset that can store the energy we need to help get to net zero.”

Construction works of the BESS facility will be completed by the end of 2024.

It will supply 300MWh of flexible capacity to the UK's national grid.

SSE noted that its BESS facility will have the capacity to operate for two hours at a time.

OCU Services is the principal contractor and Sungrow Power UK will be supplying batteries for the facility.

Sungrow Europe president Lewis Li stated: “Sungrow is proud to supply our liquid-cooled energy storage system, the PowerTitan, to this landmark project.

“We are excited for what is to come with our partnership with SSE Renewables as we work towards maximising the profitability for the project with cutting-edge products and services.”

The Ferrybridge BESS project is the second project for SSE Renewables. SSE is currently developing a 50MW BESS site at Salisbury that is expected to become operational by the end of 2023.

In addition to the Ferrybridge BESS project, SSE Renewables has also secured permission for battery storage projects at Fiddler’s Ferry (150MW) and Monk Fryston (320MW).