Cross Lane

Battery Energy Storage System

Introducing Cross Lane BESS

Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application to Gateshead Council for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land on the east side of Cross Lane, Gateshead, NE11 9HQ. The application has been validated and has been given the following planning reference number: DC/25/00366/FUL.

The proposed scheme would be around 2 acres of development on brownfield land. If consented, the BESS project would have a capacity of approximately 100MW.

Cross Lane BESS will be used to balance the energy generated by renewable energy with demand. It will also help stabilise the grid to reduce the threat of power cuts.

This network flexibility is increasingly required as the UK shifts its electricity generation from gas and coal-fired power stations to renewable sources. Cross Lane BESS therefore contributes to the UK’s effort to reduce its greenhouse gas and other environmental emissions and strengthen energy security.

Cross Lane BESS Layout Plan

The benefits

  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are a key component of integrated, low carbon energy systems, helping to maximise the use of renewable energy and contributing to the target of cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035.

  • It will provide flexibility through rapid charge or discharge of electricity allowing the electricity network to balance generation against demand and supporting the UK's urgent need for energy security.

  • The proposed scheme does not rely on any direct government subsidies.

  • The use of a brownfield site ensures that previously developed land is put to productive use, preserving the surround natural environment.

  • This is classed as a ‘temporary development’. Decommissioning and full restoration of the site at the end of life of the development will be secured via planning condition. 

  • The proposed project complies with all existing health, safety and environmental legislation, including stringent fire safety management guidelines.

The Bluefield Group is a UK-based business which develops, builds and operates solar farms and battery storage projects on behalf of the funds it advises, including the stock market-listed Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF).

Bluefield manages over 270 individual renewable energy assets with a capacity of over 1GW and an asset value of £1.8bn. Because we build and operate the projects we develop, we seek to establish long-term relationships with local communities and local authorities.

We aim to deliver high-quality projects that generate significant renewable energy, have low visual impact and enhance biodiversity and land management.

For more information on Bluefield Development please visit our website.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • For our battery projects we require a nearby grid connection, a well-screened site that is consistent with planning policy and a supportive landowner. Cross Lane BESS offers all of these features.

  • Battery energy storage sites are not usually audible above ambient noise- levels. A full noise assessment is currently being conducted for the site which will inform if any mitigation is required for the project design.

  • The battery enclosures are specifically engineered to guarantee secure operation throughout the project’s lifespan. Advanced safety measures, including continuous monitoring of individual battery cells, are in place to promptly address any potential concerns and manage operations for utmost safety.

    Battery energy storage systems are designed to adhere to stringent safety standards established by international regulatory bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

    These comprehensive standards encompass various facets of battery storage systems, including installation, operation, and maintenance, to ensure their compliance with the highest safety protocols.

  • The Lithium-Ion batteries that will be used in the project mostly use readily available materials that can be reused at the end of their life. There are established recycling processes for recovering the most common elements used in battery construction - cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese - for re-use.

  • It typically takes 6-9 months to build a BESS of this size. Site working would typically be Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings only.

    A construction traffic management plan will be conditioned and subject to detailed liaison with the highways department post planning. Once the BESS is constructed, monitoring will be carried out remotely by Bluefield, minimising visits by maintenance staff.

Contact Us

Please provide your contact details, if you’d like to hear back from us. Any comments provided will help shape our proposal as we prepare the planning application to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority.

Names and contact details will not be included in the planning application or any other published material.

feedback@alpacacommunications.com

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