Statera Energy has received planning consent from East Devon District Council in the UK for a 290MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project. The BESS will be directly connected to the Exeter substation in 2027 and will also contribute to a local fuel poverty fund.
The council accepted Statera's battery as a low-carbon energy project necessary for storing renewable energy from the grid when renewable generation exceeds demand. The project aligns with renewable and low-carbon energy policy in the East Devon Local Plan. According to officers, “It is clear that the scheme would provide benefits, in the form of reducing dependency upon fossil fuels and contributing to energy security in the UK.”
The Exeter facility will be Statera's sixth operational battery, following the success of its first schemes at Pelham and Creyke Beck, which have been providing electricity to power around 100,000 homes each since 2017.
Statera Energy has constructed six other BESS projects, is currently building its flagship 300MW battery at Tilbury Substation in Essex, and is responsible for maintaining and overseeing over a gigawatt of storage assets in the UK.
The council accepted the advice of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service regarding the well-designed proposals, which include extensive fire detection and suppression systems, raising no fire risk concerns.
Increasing BESS capacity near National Grid's strategic substations is crucial for the UK's electricity system decarbonization. Both the UK's target of achieving net zero by 2050 and the earlier target to decarbonize the power system by 2035 require significant growth in renewable energy generation, along with electricity storage to balance intermittent generation from renewables.
National Grid anticipates that batteries will account for the largest share of storage power capacity by 2050, with BESS use rising from 2.8GW in 2023 to as much as 20GW by 2030 and 35GW by 2050.
Statera has agreed with Broadclyst Parish Council to provide a contribution of tens of thousands of pounds per year to its fuel poverty fund, which can also be used for local projects. This voluntary fund aligns with central Government's draft guidance on community benefit for some infrastructure projects.
Oliver Troup, Statera Energy's representative, commented, “It's easy to jump to conclusions about unfamiliar technologies, and Statera is grateful to the community around Whimple for carefully considering our track record and all the evidence we presented. As a result, this project is able to make a significant contribution to the UK's transition to clean energy, and local people will also benefit directly through a boost to the fuel poverty fund.”
