As the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy continues, the demand for reliable, flexible energy storage solutions has never been greater. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), play an important role in balancing the grid, integrating renewable energy, and ensuring a stable power supply.
The UK's battery storage capacity is growing rapidly, with over 1.6 GW of operational projects as of 2023, according to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. The government has set an ambitious target of reaching 18 GW of storage capacity by 2035, including 10 GW from long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies like batteries.
As of Q1 2023, there were over 100 operational battery storage projects in the UK, with many more in the pipeline. The largest operational site is the 100 MW Minety project in Wiltshire, which can store enough electricity to power around 10,000 homes for a day.
The UK government aims to have 18 GW of storage capacity by 2035, including 10 GW from long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies like batteries. This is part of the wider goal to achieve a fully decarbonized electricity system by 2035. As such, developers stand to profit handsomely from identifying suitable development sites.
When scouting for potential battery storage locations, developers should consider the following factors:
Finding off-market sites that tick all the boxes for a battery storage project is no easy task. But with Searchland's advanced site sourcing tools, you can boost your search and secure the best locations before your competitors.
The Searchland platform gives you instant access to the UK's most comprehensive source of land and property data, including grid connection information, planning history, ownership details, and more. Use our intuitive filters to narrow down your search by land type, size, proximity to infrastructure, and other key criteria.
Once you've identified potential sites, our automated land registry tool lets you quickly uncover ownership information and contact details for off-market opportunities. You can even launch targeted letter campaigns to reach out to landowners directly, all within the Searchland platform.
Leading renewable energy specialists like Greenfield are already using Searchland to fuel their battery storage pipelines:
“We’ll be sourcing sites on Searchland until we’re out of substations”- Elisha Richards, Project Lead at Greenfield.
As the UK charges towards a cleaner, more flexible energy system, sourcing battery storage sites is more important than ever. For developers who can identify and secure the best sites, the opportunities are massive.
Want us to help you find your next battery storage site? Book a demo today.
One of our experts can walk you through the platform in a live session, one-to-one.