| Energy storage Carlton aims for 1 GW/2 GWh


Carlton Power, UK “independent energy infrastructure development company”, has secured planning permission for what it describes as “the world’s largest battery energy storage scheme”, a 1040 MW/2080 MWh facility to be located at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester, UK. The £750 million battery installation will strengthen the security and resilience of the energy system in the north west of England, and support the energy transition and the growth of renewable power generation in the region, the project proponents say. Planning permission for the battery energy storage system was granted by Trafford Council, the local planning authority.


Subject to a final investment decision, construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024, entering commercial operation in the final quarter of 2025. Carlton Power says it is in advanced talks with companies to finance, build and operate the facility.


The Low Carbon Energy Park is eight miles south of Manchester, and was until 1991 the site of the Carrington coal-fired power station. It is located close to Manchester Ship Canal and ESB’s


Fund in the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1).


Above: Visualisation of Trafford battery energy storage scheme (source: Carlton Power)


884 MWe GT26-based Carrington combined cycle power plant, which entered operation in 2016. The Trafford battery facility is Carlton Power’s second major energy project to be consented for the 12 hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park. The other project is Carlton’s 200 MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, the first phase of which (15-20 MW), is also set to enter commercial operation in Q4 2025.


In March 2023, the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) shortlisted the £50 million green hydrogen first phase to receive financial support from the government’s Hydrogen Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen


In addition to Carlton Power’s two projects, Highview Power Storage Inc is planning to build and operate the world’s first commercial liquid air storage system – a £250 million, 250 MWh long duration, cryogenic energy storage scheme – on the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park site. Keith Clarke, founder and chief executive of Carlton Power said: “Carlton Power acquired the former coal fired power station in 2008 to redevelop the site for new energy projects. With the approval of the BESS, this brings the total investment value of the site to £2 billion.”


Cambridge Power, developer, constructor, operator of energy storage schemes, reports that it has been working closely with Carlton Power on the Trafford storage project for a number of years, providing support with design layout, planning, and technical advice as well as introducing potential financing partners. Cambridge Power says it will now continue to work with Carlton to ensure the “timely delivery of the project to financial close” and will then “assist in taking forward the construction.”


Renewables drive pumped storage growth in China


China is building pumped storage hydropower facilities to increase the flexibility of the power grid and accommodate growing wind and solar power. As of May 2023, China had 50 GW of operational pumped-storage capacity, 30% of global capacity and more than any other country. China’s pumped-storage capacity is set to increase even more, with 89 GW of capacity currently under construction. Developers are seeking governmental approvals, land rights, or financing for an additional 276 GW of pumped storage projects, according to data from Global Energy Monitor.


10 12 14


0 2 4 6 8


1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030


Above: Pumped storage capacity by initial operating year, China (1990–2031), GW. Data source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Hydropower Tracker, May 2023


The flexibility afforded by pumped hydro is particularly important in China, which has a large and growing share of wind and solar power in its generation mix.


In 2021, wind and solar combined generated 12% of China’s electricity, according to International Energy Statistics. As wind and solar play an increasingly significant role in China’s electricity mix, the surplus energy generated will need to be stored.


Pumped storage projects have low operation and maintenance costs and long operating


lifespans. In addition, they can provide large- scale, long-term energy storage. However, they can of course have large upfront construction costs, the construction and operation can cause environmental and ecological issues, and they are geographically constrained by land requirements. Pumped storage is also subject to water availability.


Source: US Energy Information Administration. Principal contributors: Katherine Antonio, Jonathan Russo, Elesia Fasching


Operating Under construction Planned


operating solar farms


+89 GW under construction and +276 GW planned without a


specified start date


CHIN A


operating wind farms


operating pumped storage


Megawatts of capacity


3,000 MW 1,000 MW


2,000 MW 100 MW


pumped storage under construction


Above: Pumped storage plants in China (May 2023). Data source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Hydropower Tracker, May 2023


www.modernpowersystems.com | September 2023 | 21


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