Statera Energy secures approval for 4 GWh, eight-hour battery eligible for LDES in the UK

UK-based energy developer Statera Energy announced over the weekend that is has received planning consent for the 500 MW / 4 GWh Sundon Storage battery energy storage system (BESS).

The Sundon Storage project was given approval the Central Bedfordshire planning committee, being developed close to the existing Sundon National Grid substation. The project is one of 77 currently under consideration as part of the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) scheme and, if successful, will be deployed as a minimum 8-hour system, making it one of the UK’s largest battery storage projects.

The company didn’t provide a direct timeline towards operation, noting in its announcement, construction of Sundon Storage is expected to begin “later this decade,” with the site “fully operational by 2030.”

A key factor for the project as a minimum eight-hour system is that it becomes eligible for the UK’s long duration energy storage (LDES) cap and floor scheme, and Statera Energy pointed out that it is indeed one of 77 projects currently in the assessment stage.

Sundon Storage is expected to start construction later in the current decade and to be fully operational by 2030.

Oliver Troup, Development Lead at Statera Energy, said: “Securing planning for Sundon is a significant milestone for the project and reflects the extensive work undertaken with local stakeholders and the planning authority. Sundon is particularly exciting as it can store energy for a minimum of 8-hours and is part of Ofgem’s LDES allocation scheme. Large-scale battery storage like this helps manage variability in generation and demand, and we’re proud to be progressing another project that supports the UK’s energy transition.”

Statera already owns and operates one of the UK’s largest batteries with the 300 MW / 600 MWh Thurrock System, and it also recently acquired a 1360 MWh battery project in an area close to Manchester in England, which is expected to be energized this year.