Public consultation event
January 2025
Who we are About Statera
We develop, own and operate the assets which provide critical grid balancing support in a renewables-led power system. This includes battery storage, pumped storage hydro, flexible generation plants, and green hydrogen projects.
Our technologies ensure a reliable UK energy supply
As we increasingly rely on renewable sources of energy - like solar and wind - there are periods of extended shortfall and excess of energy production. Statera's infrastructure provides the storage capacity and flexibility required to keep the grid stable ensuring the lights stay on, even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.
By facilitating the shift to a renewables-led energy system, these technologies are helping lower carbon emissions at the best value for energy users across the UK.
What's the purpose of this exhibition?
- View our proposals for Sundon BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).
- Gather feedback to help inform proposals prior to planning submission.
- Explain the timeline and planning process.
- Provide contact details and share how you can keep in touch.
Understanding the technology
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are a fantastic instantaneous short term energy storage solution, moving stored energy through time to balance the daily peaks and troughs in supply and demand.
You may be familiar with lithium-ion batteries in devices like smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. BESS uses similar technology but on a much larger scale, providing vital balancing services to electricity networks.
Batteries use electricity to charge when there is surplus energy or low demand, and they also transfer energy back to the grid in times of high demand. As renewable energy generation increases, BESS provide a more important service to the grid and to large scale electricity users.
Why is energy storage so important?
As we rely on renewable energy sources like wind and solar more often, energy storage is playing a more critical role in ensuring grid reliability. BESS offer:
- Surplus energy generated at off peak times to be stored for later use, increasing efficiency.
- Integrating renewable generation into the electricity system.
- Responding rapidly to power fluctuations within networks, helping maintain a stable supply.
- The opportunity to not have to turn off renewable generators during windy and sunny periods at high costs to consumers.
Why is this project needed?
The need to urgently reduce carbon emissions is critical in combating climate change. The UK Government has set ambitious goals to achieve a decarbonised electricity network by 2030 and transition to a net zero economy by 2050.
The challenge
A key challenge in this transition is balancing the electricity grid. To maintain a reliable energy supply, we must ensure that demand is met at every moment; every second, every minute, every hour of every day.
In a renewable-led future, wind power will dominate electricity supply. However, wind is inherently intermittent and doesn't align with demand. This creates the need for solutions that can store energy during periods of surplus generation and release it when required. BESS and other forms of long-duration storage provide solutions to this challenge.
Why this location?
Statera follows a rigorous site selection process to ensure each BESS project is optimally located. Key criteria include:
- A suitable connection to a National Grid substation is essential for efficiency and a connection at scale. In this case, 400kV.
- Sites should be near demand centres to reduce transmission loss. Being on the outer ring of London is very helpful in this case.
- Ensuring minimal environmental impact as possible and this is helped by short cable routes for such high voltage connections.
The proposed development site is strategically located next to the Sundon 400kV National Grid substation, a key point in the UK electricity network, and is positioned on the outskirts of one of the largest demand centres in the UK.
What's included in the proposal?
Our site will include several components that work together to create a safe and effective system:
- Battery containers: Where the batteries are housed.
- Inverter houses and control rooms: To convert and manage energy flows.
- Shipping containers: For storage and welfare facilities.
- Fire water tanks: Used as a back-up water supply.
- Customer substation: To connect the system to the grid.
- Onsite attenuation ponds: To manage water runoff.
- Landscaping and ecological enhancement area: Hedgerows, tree planting, wetland and biodiverse grassland.
Inverter house
Profiled steel-clad building finished in a recessive green with a folded metal roof, matt zinc finish. Exact colour finishes to be agreed with the planning authority.
Battery container
Exact colour finishes to the containers to be fixed following consultation with the planning authority.
Sundon BESS Site plan
Sundon BESS Key project details
- Capacity: 500MW
- Response time: < 1 second
- Homes powered: Equivalent to 540,000 homes per day
Statera is seeking planning permission to develop a battery energy storage system (BESS) on land to the south of the existing Sundon 400kV National Grid substation.
The site is within the administrative area of Central Bedfordshire Council. The site area is approximately 28 hectares, a significant portion will be dedicated to landscaping and ecological enhancements, creating spaces for biodiversity and improving local environment.
Our battery systems are designed to deliver an efficient and reliable service that can adapt to various energy market conditions. The BESS we develop can provide super-fast, sub second reactions to demand and generation changes on the grid.
Deploying batteries at this large scale can realistically only be done next to existing National Grid substations, avoiding the need for long-distance cabling, which is uneconomical. The project will connect directly to the substation at 400kV, enabling seamless integration into the national electricity network.
Environmental considerations
Our application will include an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will outline how the Sundon BESS project could interact with the environment and how adverse effects can be avoided, mitigated and managed through design and control measures to reduce its potential impact.
Environmental surveys have been undertaken to understand the potential impacts the proposed development could have on the environment and to identify appropriate measures to avoid, reduce or offset any adverse effects.
Initial surveys commenced in 2023 for cultural heritage, protected species, habitats and birds, as well as noise and transport assessments.
Mitigation measures include protecting retained trees and hedgerows and a mitigation strategy for bats, nesting birds, great crested newts, and reptiles. Implementing these measures will ensure that there are no residual effects from the development.
Over 19.4 hectares of the site will be dedicated to enhancing local biodiversity.
Planning initiatives include:
- Planting native trees to support wildlife.
- Creating wildflower meadows and scrubland to enrich habitats.
- Establishing ponds for amphibians and aquatic species.
- Installing bird boxes to encourage nesting.
We recognise there are other infrastructure proposals coming forward in the local area. As part of our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we will carefully evaluate the cumulative impacts of Sundon BESS alongside other nearby developments, considering factors such as traffic, noise, landscape, and biodiversity.
We are committed to minimising disruption through thoughtful site design, biodiversity enhancements, and coordinated construction schedules. By working closely with local authorities and engaging with the community, we aim to address concerns and ensure our project contributes positively to the area.
Sundon BESS Fire safety
Statera has been operating flexible energy generation and battery storage schemes, incident free, since 2015. A fire liaison framework between Statera and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will form part of the planning application.
Statera implements multiple layers of mitigation to enhance safety:
- Cooling systems to keep batteries below 40°C.
- Controls to stop charging of batteries at 60°C.
- Fire suppression systems triggered by heat and smoke detectors at 65°C.
- A minimum of 3m spacing between BESS containers.
Feedback and consultation timeline
Thank you for visiting our public exhibition to find out more about the proposals for Sundon BESS. Please take the time to complete the feedback forms provided to let us know your view on the proposals.
Feedback
How and when to provide feedback
You can provide your views by completing our feedback form. Please note that feedback should be returned no later than Friday 14th February, 2025. If you have any further questions regarding any aspect of the Sundon BESS proposals, please contact us via the details below:
Email: contact@stateraenergy.co.uk
Post: Statera Energy, 4th Floor, 80 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JL
Phone: 0141 264 2831
Online: www.sundonbess.co.uk
How will feedback be used?
Feedback from this consultation, alongside the ongoing technical and environmental studies, will help shape and inform the proposals going forward.
Please note
Any comments made to the Sundon BESS project team are not representations to the Planning Authority. If a planning application is subsequently submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council, normal neighbour notification and publicity will be undertaken and the public will have the opportunity to make formal representations on that planning application at that time.
Timeline
Scoping submitted
Q4 2024
Public consultation
Q1 2025
Receive Scoping Opinion from Council
Q1 2025
Application submission
Q1 2025
Construction begins
Likely 2026
Operational
By 2027