What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and why do we need it?
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) store excess electricity until sold into the National Grid to meet industrial or domestic electricity demands. Our BESS assets help level out expensive peaks and troughs of electricity pricing caused by supply and demand imbalance.
Lower 48 Energy Lytham BESS is an important project in an area of strategic importance for energy storage and involves the construction of a strategic scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The project is being developed to meet the increasingly critical need to stabilise the UK electricity grid and maximise the use of renewable energy as older forms of non-renewable generation are being decommissioned and new forms of intermittent renewable energy from wind and solar farms are connected to the system.
Renewable Energy
The energy system is the backbone of modern society. To deliver on the transition to net zero whilst continuing to deliver for consumers, a whole energy system approach and strategic change is required across all fuels, renewable energy, and this includes Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
As renewable energy generation does not always match periods of high demand, energy storage is important in ensuring that the grid can be managed, and the UK can increase the proportion of low carbon and zero carbon generation utilised to power the electricity network by removing constraints of renewable generation at times of low demand.
Battery Energy Storage Systems allow the UK to increase the proportion of low carbon and zero carbon generation used to power the electricity network.
Projects such as Lytham BESS are critical in helping ensure that the UK meets its objectives of becoming a net zero greenhouse gas emitting nation by 2050.
What we do
Lower 48 Energy BESS is a UK based business that operates across the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) landscape.
Our engineers study the entire National Grid and the local Distribution Network Operators grids to identify viable and advantageous locations to build battery assets. Once we have identified a location, we then work with our planning teams to establish the exact location of the sites that would be sympathetic to building out an asset.
Our inhouse team of rural surveyors then approach prospective landowners and explain a proposition. Lower 48 Energy then apply to the National Grid and the Distribution Network Operators for a grid connection. If granted, we then apply for Planning Permission to build the asset. The construction of a typical Battery Energy Storage System will take about 9 months to build and commission. Once commissioned the facility will be ‘operated’ remotely from a dedicated office that monitors the facility 24/7/365, helping to keep the UK’s lights on.
Our Process
Early Development
The project is currently at this stage. A Grid Connection Offer from National Grid has been secured and a planning consultant has been engaged to support early site investigation work.
Public Consultation
Kick off meetings with key community groups will commence in june 2024.
Submission of Planning
Application
The submission of the planning application with occur in june/july 2024.
Consented
If approval is given, we are likely to see consent being granted in mid to late 2025.
In Construction
If it goes ahead, the construction of this project is likely to start in spring 2026, with appox. 12 months build period.
Operational
If it goes ahead, Lower 48 energy will manage the financial operation of the site and oversee the maintenance, insurance and compliance.
