BayWa r.e. UK in partnership with Grüne Energien Projekt UG is proposing to build a 57 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility on land southeast of The Carss Angling Lakes, Letch Lane, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees.
BESS facilities are important infrastructure that enable energy from renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy to be stored and then released when the National Grid requires power. BESS facilities are essential to facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy and achieve the UK’s goal of net-zero carbon by 2050. BESS facilities enable homes and businesses to be powered by renewable energy even at times when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
57 MW
5.72 ha on land southeast of The Carss Angling Lakes, Letch Lane, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees
being developed by BayWa r.e. and Grüne Energien
About Meadow Farm Battery Limited
Meadow Farm Battery Limited is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) wholly owned by BRE/GE Solar Developments Limited which is a company owned by joint venture partners BayWa r.e. UK Limited and Grüne Energien Projekt UG (Haftungsbeschränkt).
This project is seeking consent to be installed across an area of 5.72 hectares. The expected generating capacity of the project is up to 57 MW.
Latest News
The Meadow Farm BESS project has received planning application permission. Documents are available to view on the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council website.
Project Location Map
Surveys and Assessments around the Project
To develop and build a suitable project for the land, the environment and its biodiversity, several surveys and assessments have been undertaken by external design offices.
- Ecology
Ecological Surveys
Ecological surveys have been undertaken on the site to identify the important habitats and wildlife to be considered in the development process.
The majority of habitat on the site is semi-improved neutral grassland, with some ditches which remain dry most of the year. The southern boundary of the site consists of trees and hedge, which will be improved and will provide visual screening.
Biodiversity Improvements
- Native wildflower and rough grassland planted across the site outside of the BESS compound.
- Proposed new sections of hedgerow and additional scattered trees to improve biodiversity and provide visual screening.
- Two proposed areas of woodland planting.
You can access the landscape plan via the download link below.
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Landscape and Visual
We have carefully considered views from both public locations and private properties. The site is already well screened by established vegetation, so views from the wider area are limited. Within the site, the battery units and power conversion stations (PCS) will be surrounded by an acoustic barrier that will be painted green to be more in keeping with surrounding area and which will also fully screen the batteries and PCS from view. Additional woodland planting and scattered trees have been proposed to provide further visual screening of the development for users of the PRoW and adjacent fishing lake.
A Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) has been submitted as part of the planning application. The LEMP sets out all of the improvement measures that we will commit to, including additional planting, and explains how we will implement and maintain them throughout the lifespan of the project.
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Noise
Noise Impact Assessment
A full Noise Impact Assessment has been conducted as part of the design process and an acoustic barrier will be installed around the BESS facility to ensure noise levels are kept to a minimum.
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Flood Risk
Flood risk has been a key consideration throughout the development process and a full Flood Risk Assessment and Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) design has been prepared. A SuDS attenuation pond will be built on site to ensure no flooding issues will occur on or off site as a result of the facility. The pond will also be planted with a mix of native plant species to help support local wildlife.
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Access
A construction traffic management plan will be submitted as part of the planning application and any traffic management will be agreed upon with the local highway’s authority. Once operational the facility will be visited a few times a week by one van, so will not cause any changes to current traffic levels.
Through normal operations, the battery cells will degrade over time (like the battery in your phone) and will need to be replaced every few years (depending on how the battery is operated, this could be every 5-8 years). This is a simple process which can be done by hand, and the containers housing the racks of battery cells will not have to be removed and replaced. Therefore, traffic for this process will be minimal. For decommissioning at the end of the project life, the installation will be dismantled and removed over a similar timeframe to the construction period using similar vehicles, equipment and methods.
Download
Benefits of Meadow Farm BESS
- Supporting governmental climate targets to reach the zero net carbon in 2050.
- Supporting Council’s climate targets: In line with “Policy ENV 2 – Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation” of the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Local Plan, the BESS facility will help to provide a constant supply of renewable energy to homes and businesses in the area.
- Providing local contracting opportunities for civil works during construction.
- Setting up an annual community benefit contribution fund in collaboration with Carlton Parish Council.
Project Timeline
September 2023
Spring 2024
