Somerset Council has given the green light for a battery energy storage system (BESS) which will enable energy from renewable generation sources such as solar and wind to be stored and released when the network requires, helping maintain grid stability. The 90MW BESS site is located on Summerway Drove, East Bower, Bridgwater and will be built on 1.7 acres of land.
The BESS application was approved by Somerset Council under delegated powers on the 6th February 2025. Renewable Connections, one of the UK’s leading solar and battery developers, submitted the application in November 2023 following consultation with both the community and statutory consultees. The approval marks Renewable Connections 24th project consent since 2021 and takes Renewable Connections consent rate to over 1GW.
Battery energy storage systems use intelligent software to identify when to store or release energy to the grid and meet peak demand. This means that it allows renewable energy to be used even when the conditions for generation are not being met.
Philip Hale, Chief Operating Officer at Renewable Connections said: “We welcome the decision by Somerset Council to approve the Summerway Drove BESS project. The project will help to tackle the climate emergency in Somerset by using smart technology to store renewable energy that can then be released and deployed as and when required. This in turn can aid in the management of peaks and troughs in energy demand, helping to support a more stable and reliable national grid. We are proud that this project is contributing to the UK taking another step towards a net zero future and particularly delighted this consent takes us to over 1GW of consented projects.”
The UK Government estimates that the implementation of battery energy storage systems could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion in operating costs by 2050*, helping reduce individual energy bills.
