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In Planning

Energy Storage System

Forest Road ESS

0MW
Storage Capacity
0.0
Acres of land
0.0
Acres of landscaping

Introduction

Innova are proposing an Energy Storage System (ESS) located on land to the southeast of Thurlaston Lane, Enderby. The development areas have been carefully selected and designed via a detailed assessment process. Once connected, the ESS could store enough energy to power all homes in the Enderby area continuously for 103 hours. This proposal will be connected into the transmission network at Enderby National Grid Substation via an underground cable, and has the potential to be used by local homes and businesses.   

Why do we want to develop here?

The UK has a legally binding target to achieve Net Zero by 2050, and has committed to fully decarbonising the electricity network by 2035.  

As part of this, the Government has set an ambitious target to deliver 30GW of energy storage by 2030. This means that many low carbon and renewable developments are needed across the UK.

In 2020, Blaby District Council published ambitions to be carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030 and support the district in becoming carbon neutral by 2050. 

Environmental Benefits

The UK has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050, and has a target to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. This requires an extra 3GW of solar to be built each year. Renewable energy developments like Forest Road Energy Storage Project are a key part of addressing the Climate Emergency. This development will serve a key role in this vital transition to renewable energy. 

In 2020, Blaby District Council published ambitions to be carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030 and support the district in becoming carbon neutral by 2050.  

The Future Energy Scenarios 2022 report (written by National Grid ESO) indicates that the UK will need more than 250GW of energy storage by 2050, and this proposal would add a significant amount of energy storage to this pipeline. In April 2022, Renewable UK reported that, nationwide, there was around 1.5GW of energy storage in operation, 1.5GW under construction, and 10GW that had consent, but had not yet been built. A significant increase is required in order to meet the projected requirements. 

Projects like the Forest Road ESS proposal allow for energy to be stored at times of low demand and released at times of high demand. Energy Storage Systems also allow us to make better use of our existing electricity supplies and for electricity generated from other renewable energy sources to be fully utilised. 

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Current planning process status

01

Complete

Community Consultation

Information regarding the Community Consultation will be shared here in due course.

02

Complete

Revise Proposals

Information regarding Revised Proposals will be shared here in due course.

03

Complete

Application Submitted

The target for submitting our planning application is Spring 2024. Further information regarding the submission of our planning application will be shared here in due course.

04

TBC

Decision on Application

Information regarding the decision on our planning application will be shared here in due course.

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The Location

We are proposing an Energy Storage System on land to the southeast of Thurlaston Lane, Enderby. This proposal will be connected into the transmission network and has the potential to be used by local homes and businesses. The system has an indicative storage capacity of 908 megawatts (MW). The final capacity of the site will be reviewed following feedback from local residents and the final outstanding surveys. The site areas have been carefully selected, and the design informed by a detailed assessment process. 

Construction Information

 

Access information: 

The access points for construction and operational traffic are proposed to be from Thurlaston Lane. This will require some tree, hedgerow and fence removal on the verge. Trees and hedgerows will be replaced at a suitable ratio agreed with Blaby District Council. 

Once operational, the site will be visited for occasional routine maintenance, typically once or twice a month, by a light goods vehicle.

 

Cable route:

The Forest Road ESS proposal will be connected to the National Grid Substation at Enderby via an underground cable. We are currently engaging local stakeholders to secure a route.  

Specialist Environmental Surveys

The following surveys have been undertaken at this stage:

 

Agricultural land

According to the Natural England Regional Land Classification Map, the site is located predominately on Grade 3 agricultural land. Grade 3b, 4, and 5 are classified as lower grade agricultural land. A site-specific survey has been undertaken and we are awaiting the results.

 

Hydrology

The site is located in an area with a low risk of flooding. A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is however currently underway, which will review how the site could be affected by flooding and from surface water. A drainage strategy will be included and discussed with Blaby District Council.

 

Archaeology and Heritage

A Historic Environmental Desk-Based Assessment is currently being carried out. This assessment will consider the available archaeological, historic, topographic, and land-use information in order to establish the potential for any effects on heritage assets in the area, and the likelihood of encountering archaeological remains on the site. A geophysical survey has been undertaken.

 

Noise

We are preparing a Noise Impact Assessment of the site, which has identified the closest noise sensitive receptors and has been informed by background noise monitoring. The assessment identifies that the proposed development will give rise to rating sound levels that do not exceed the measured background sound level in the area during the day and night, and are therefore acceptable.

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