Root-Power secures consent for 100 MWh ‘Lucky Star’ battery in Kent

Root-Power has secured planning permission for its 50 MW/100 MWh ‘Lucky Star’ battery energy storage system in Herne Bay, Kent. 

Approved by Canterbury City Council in under six months and without outstanding objections, the scheme will sit around 100m from a local substation and adjacent to the 49.9 MW Owls Hatch solar farm. That proximity is expected to minimise new grid works, maximise renewable capture and provide rapid balancing services when output from wind and solar dips.

Construction is due to start shortly, adding another milestone to the developer’s growing pipeline. Work is already under way on Root-Power’s 12 MW/48 MWh project at Caterham in Surrey, which entered the build phase earlier this month. 

Neil Brooks, Managing Director at Root-Power, commented, “Our portfolio of approved projects continues to grow with this announcement in Kent. Battery storage is going to play a critical role as the Government plans to ramp up the deployment of renewable energy generation as part of its Clean Power 2030 plan.

“We look forward to starting construction on the site, which will support the reinforcement of electricity infrastructure in the area and provide long-term resilience and energy independence.”