SSE’s first BESS project reaches milestone

SSE Renewables’ first battery energy storage system (BESS) project has reached a significant milestone, with all 26 battery units successfully installed at the site in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The 50MW project is being delivered in conjunction with Wartsila with the site scheduled to be fully operational in early 2024.

Installation took place over a three-week period and was carried out by King Lifting.

The milestone follows the recent news that SSE Renewables has started construction of its second battery storage site – a 150MW project in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire – with more projects set to be rolled out as part of the company’s significant solar and battery pipeline.

“It’s fantastic to have completed the installation of the battery units at Salisbury as we edge ever closer to energisation of our first battery storage project,” said Richard Cave-Bigley, SSE Renewables solar and battery director.

“The team have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and we are looking forward to the site going live so that we can start to provide flexible, renewable energy to the grid.”

With all 26 batteries installed, the next step is to reach energisation which should happen later this year – with the site due to be fully operational at the beginning of next year.

SSE Renewables is progressing a 1.2GW secured pipeline of solar and battery projects across the UK and Ireland; with a further 1.3GW of other prospective sites under development. 

These assets complement SSE’s existing portfolio of other low carbon infrastructure such as wind and hydro.

The project at Salisbury will be SSE Renewables’ first operational battery storage project, with a 150MW BESS site at Ferrybridge now also under construction and due for completion in 2024. 

The business has also received planning consent for battery storage projects at Fiddler’s Ferry (150MW) and Monk Fryston (320MW).

SSE recently set out plans that could see the group invest up to £40bn in low carbon technology across the decade to 2031/32, with a fully funded £18bn five-year investment plan to 2027. 

In doing so SSE expects to create 1,000 new green jobs a year.