Thrive’s 20 MW storage project now operational
Published by Theodore Reed-Martin,
Editorial Assistant
Energy Global,
Thrive’s 20MW battery storage project on Feeder Road in Bristol is now operational. The company’s largest battery project to date, it has the capacity to store and deliver 1.5 hours or 30 MWh of electricity. This is the company’s second storage project, joining a 5 MW battery storage facility in operation since 2022 at Wicken near Milton Keynes.
In September 2023, we also agreed to fund 192MW of new solar PV and battery storage through a £20 million investment in a UK development portfolio. The first projects are expected to be constructed this year.
“Now that it’s operational, our Bristol battery will become a crucial asset to the grid as well as our own portfolio – complementing our wind, solar, and hydro projects. Storage capacity forms a key part of our diversification strategy. By investing in diverse assets, all of which are required for the UK’s future energy system, we create value across our portfolio and ensure we benefit from a range of technology and natural energy sources. The flexible energy storage role that batteries play is an essential building block in a renewables-based grid,” said Matthew Clayton, Managing Director, Thrive Renewables.
The project involved a collaborative effort between commercial and third sector organisations; Thrive, Aura Power, Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) and Residents Against Dirty Energy (RADE). Campaigning work by RADE and BEC originally prevented the site from becoming a polluting diesel STOR generator. Having successfully blocked planning permission for the dirty generator, they supported Aura Power’s proposal for a battery, a clean technology, storing excess electricity when it is abundant and ultimately enabling more renewables to be connected to the grid.
In recognition of the community effort to support the project, we have been able to offer local residents the opportunity to own a stake in it through shared ownership with BEC. We are proud to be the first commercial owner to offer shared ownership in a standalone battery project in the UK.
For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.
Energy Global's Winter 2023 issue
The Winter 2023 issue of Energy Global hosts an array of technical articles weather analysis, geothermal solutions, energy storage technology, and more. This issue also features a regional report looking at the future of renewables in North America, and a report from Théodore Reed-Martin, Editorial Assistant, Energy Global, on how Iceland utilises its unique geology for renewable energy.
Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/energy-storage/08012024/thrives-20-mw-bristol-battery-now-operational/
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