The BESS will be built at the site of SSE’s former Fiddler’s Ferry coal-fired power station in Widnes.
SSE Renewables has just given the green light for a battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Widnes, Cheshire.
The company has made its final investment decision to move forward with this 150MW/300MWh BESS project. The BESS will be located at the site of SSE’s former Fiddler’s Ferry coal-fired power station, which was decommissioned in March 2020.
Up to 2 hours runtime
The project will utilize the existing grid connection and is expected to have a runtime of up to two hours. This marks SSE Renewables’ fourth BESS project to receive a final investment decision, boosting their total pipeline capacity for projects under construction to 670MW. Richard Cave-Bigley, the director of solar & battery at SSE Renewables, expressed his excitement for this milestone in solar and battery development.
Fiddlers Ferry Power Station Demolition
Fiddler’s Ferry ceased operations and underwent decommissioning in March 2020, marking the end of its nearly five-decade-long power generation journey. Now, a new chapter awaits this site as it undergoes a remarkable transformation over the next ten years and beyond.
New life
The plan is to repurpose the area for a blend of residential and industrial purposes, breathing new life into this iconic landmark. Standing tall amidst the landscape are four of the original eight cooling towers, soaring to an impressive height of 114 meters (374 ft), alongside a towering chimney reaching 200 meters (660 ft).
North Cheshire skyline
Their presence is so striking that they can be spotted from afar, even as far as the picturesque Peak District and the majestic Pennines. Recently, on 3rd December 2023, the first four northernmost cooling towers were demolished, with the remaining four in the southernmost section scheduled for demolition in early 2024.
Future BESS Development
Additionally, the company has also started constructing the largest BESS in the UK, a 320MW / 640MWh project in Yorkshire.
Further reading
https://www.jpsil.co.uk/content/bess-battery-energy-storage-system
https://www.jpsil.co.uk/blog/manchester-bess-2gwh/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlers_Ferry_power_station