Cambridge Power secures planning consent for 100 MW battery energy storage project in Bedfordshire

Cambridge Power has secured the planning consent to build a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Staploe, Bedfordshire. This will be the company's first site to benefit from UK Power Network's technical grid connection solution developed under their regional development program (RDP).

The solution will help unlock additional network capacity and reduce constraints on providing grid connection to a BESS with restrictions for peak demand and peak generation times on the network.

The BESS facility will allow for the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, leading to increased reliability and resiliency in energy supply to the region. The project's construction and grid connection work is scheduled for 2024, with the company also pledging to support biodiversity at the site through extensive planting alongside the technical infrastructure. The aim is to achieve a biodiversity net gain of 71%, providing ecological benefits and landscape mitigation in its efforts towards achieving sustainability.