The £750 million 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.
The Trafford BESS is Carlton Power’s second major energy project that has been consented for the c12 hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, eight miles south of Manchester. The other project is Carlton’s 200 MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme; the scheme’s first phase (15-20 MW) is also set to enter commercial operation in Q4 2025.
In March 2023, the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) shortlisted the £50 million green hydrogen first phase to receive financial support from the Government’s Hydrogen Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen Fund in the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1).
Trafford Green Hydrogen (at 200 MW) was consented by Trafford Council in September 2022, making it the UK’s largest consented green hydrogen scheme. Carlton Power also recently secured planning permission for one of the UK’s first hydrogen pipelines at the Trafford site.
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 £250 million 250 MWh 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 £750 million Carrington flexible gas-fired power station which entered operation in 2016.
“Carlton Power acquired the former coal fired power station in 2008 to redevelop the site for new energy projects” said Keith Clarke, Founder and Chief Executive of Carlton Power. “With the approval of the BESS, this brings the total investment value of the site to £2 billion, which will deliver significant economic benefits to the Greater Manchester region and help to deliver the regional net zero targets. The investment in the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park over the next 2-5 years demonstrates Carlton’s long-term vision and commitment to re-energising the Trafford site.”
Councillor Tom Ross, the leader of Trafford Council and Green City-Region lead for Greater Manchester, added that the Trafford BESS, alongside the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, places Trafford and Greater Manchester at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition.
“The two schemes will help address our climate crisis – one of Trafford Council’s corporate priorities - and will support our region’s plan to reach a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038” said Mr Ross. “I applaud Carlton Power’s long-term vision in developing the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.”
Chris McKerrow, Head of Carlton Power’s European BESS Development said that the BESS scheme will make a significant contribution to the resilience of the North West’s energy system and, combined with Carlton Power’s green hydrogen scheme and the cryobattery project, underlines Trafford Park’s importance to the energy transition in the region and the journey towards Net Zero.
“Trafford Council and other local organisations, like the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, recognize the importance of the BESS and the green hydrogen scheme to the energy transition, to inward investment and to the regeneration of land, much of it vacant for over 20 years” said Mr McKerrow. “We are delighted to have secured planning consent for the world’s largest BESS and our focus now turns towards financing and building the scheme.”
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