Firstway Energy secures three BESS planning approvals in the UK in recent days

Renewable energy developer Firstway Energy has received planning consent for three new grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in recent days, marking another significant step in its contribution to the UK’s clean energy future.

With a combined power capacity of 270MW and a 2-hour duration, the approved projects are:

• 100MW at Wilsden, Bradford (City of Bradford Council)

• 100MW at Old Hutton, Kendal (Westmorland and Furness Council)

• 70MW at Boxgrove, Chichester (Chichester District Council)

These schemes represent the seventh, eighth, and ninth BESS planning approvals secured by Firstway Energy in the past 12 months taking its total planning consented pipeline to 870MW.

Firstway is actively collaborating with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to accelerate grid connections, with a clear aim to deliver all three projects ahead of 2029.

BESS installations are vital to decarbonising the UK’s energy system. They enable increased renewable energy generation, stabilise the grid, and strengthen national energy security.

Jonny Hill, Senior Planning Manager at Firstway Energy, said: “Working collaboratively with the Local Planning Authorities in each case was a key element of our success. This included supporting officers in educating councillors on the importance of energy storage, and the significant weight that should be given to contributing to the UK Government’s goal of achieving Clean Power by 2030.”