FORT WIDLEY
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS)
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WHO IS THE APPLICANT?
- Voltwise Power Holdings Limited – An organisation dedicated to becoming one of the leading utility-scale battery energy storage owners and operators across Europe.
- First launched in the UK and Germany, with a mission to provide intelligent, safe and reliable BESS across Europe.
- Dedicated to delivering net zero emissions targets.
WHY IS BATTERY STORAGE IMPORTANT
- Battery energy storage is crucial for the UK’s transition to a clean energy future and is vital for achieving its net-zero targets. It helps stabilise the grid, integrate renewable energy sources, and will help to reduce costs.
- England is aiming to achieve net-zero by 2050.
- By 2050, according to NESO, we may require up to 40GW of energy storage.
- The British Energy Security Strategy set ambitions for 30GW of energy storage across the UK by 2030.
LOCATION
- The application site is located on land at Fort Widley, Portsmouth.
- The development will connect to Fort Widley Substation via underground cable. • There is available grid capacity at this location.
- There are very few suitable locations in the country such as this.
- This location minimises the amount of connection infrastructure required which is better for the environment and means lower embodied carbon emissions.
- The proposed site is approximately 1.6 hectares (4 acres).
SITE LAYOUT
- Containerised battery storage facility (60 x containers) with up to 120MW of energy storage.
- Circa 6.5-metre-long containers at a height of approx. 2.5 metres and a 132kV substation.
- An access track, electricity meter building, fences, and containers housing batteries and related equipment would make up the development.
- Any existing hedgerows and trees will be preserved, and a belt of new planting and other native trees and plants is proposed to fully screen the development.
- Stores surplus electricity – returns electricity to the grid to meet demand helping to lower carbon emissions.
- This balances the grid’s supply and demand.
SITE ELEVATIONS
- Indicative Transformer Elevations at a height of approx. 7.4 metres.
- Circa 6.5 metre-long containers at a height of approx. 2.5 metres.
- Containerised battery storage facility (60 x containers) with up to 120MW of energy storage.
- 132kV SubstationIndicative DNO Compound Elevations
