Planning application submitted for ‘ground breaking’ 2.8GWh BESS

Artist's impression of the Thorpe Marsh battery storage facility. Image: The Banks Group.

Renewable energy, minerals and property firm, The Banks Group, has submitted planning applications to Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council for a “ground breaking” battery energy storage system (BESS) that is said to be able to store up to 2.8GWh of energy.

Thorpe Marsh Green Energy Hub, is to be based on the former Thorpe Marsh power station site, which will be reclaimed and restored for the project.

A sperate planning application will be submitted in the coming months to reclaim the power stations ash disposal area by recovering up to 2.25 million tonnes of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) over a four year period.

Additionally, the overall scheme features the recommissioning of the existing rail connection, so that transporting materials to and from the power station site will be done primarily by rail rather than HGVs on local roads.

Environmental enhancements were also integrated into the site’s plan including developing wetlands, woodlands and species-rich grass land.

The next community hearing on the project is set to take place on Thursday 16 February at Jubilee Hall on Bentley High Street, where local opinions on the site will be heard.

“This is a nationally significant scheme that will put South Yorkshire at the forefront of developments in the increasingly important energy storage industry, and we’re excited to have reached this stage in its realisation,” said Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at The Banks Group.

“The response we’ve had to our ideas from local people, businesses and community leaders so far has been very encouraging and we’ll continue to speak with as many people as we can in the coming months about everything that this project would deliver.”

The flexible energy hub is hoped to come online by the close of 2028.