We’re excited to announce the appointment of electricity connections experts, Eclipse Power Networks, and specialist electrical group, RJ Power. The partnerships will support Root-Power’s Coryton Energy Park project in Corringham, Essex, in which construction started May 2024.

Eclipse Power Networks, has been appointed as the independent distribution network operator (IDNO) at Coryton Park. Its role will be to adopt part of the private and distribution networks being installed as part of the project, owning and operating it for the lifetime of the project.

RJ Power will act as the independent connection provider (ICP) at the site in Essex. As an ICP, they will be the contractor responsible for the design and construction of the grid connection at the energy park, eventually adopted by Eclipse Power Networks. They will complete all design work, including obtaining approval from both Eclipse Power Networks and UK Power Networks (the DNO) for the design, as well being responsible for the procurement of plant items, and then construct the connection prior to it being adopted by the DNO and IDNO.

Neil Brooks, Managing Director of Root-Power, said: “We are excited to be working with both Eclipse and RJ Power to support and strengthen our Coryton Project and continue our mission to support the UK’s energy transition.

By utilising an IDNO we have been able to accelerate the connection timeframe for our project at Coryton Energy Park, and through the added flexibility of partnering with Eclipse Power, our ICP, RJ Power, have been able to design the connection with far more efficiency and cost effectiveness than might otherwise be possible.

At Root-Power we remain committed to our plans to add 150MW of storage capacity to our portfolio in 2024 and 2025, Coryton Energy Park is the first project on this journey and we’ve carefully selected both Eclipse Power and RJ Power because of their proven experience and expertise within the UK power sector.

Our projects play a pivotal role in creating a more sustainable future by growing the UK’s renewable energy landscape. With battery storage solutions continuing to prove critical to reach net zero targets, this remains an important time for us to invest in forging long-standing partnerships with other leaders in the industry.”

Charles Deacon, Managing Director of Eclipse Power Solutions stated: “We are delighted to have worked collaboratively with Root Power, UKPN, UCE and RJ Power to bring this energy park online, providing much needed local balancing and flexibility to the grid. Including the unique challenges of this being an ANM connection, utilising an IDNO can provide economic efficiencies and engineering flexibility over the local DNO route. Eclipse Power looks forward to continuing to work with Root Power on more projects going forwards.”

RJ Power Connections Director, Matt Woolley was delighted with this contract, and added:

“Securing this contract was reliant on a well-developed work winning strategy with our client and is testament to the skill and commitment of the individuals involved. This relationship has been developed from demonstrating our skills to deliver during our time the working with our esteemed client over the years.

The key to the delivery will be utilising the skills and expertise across the group of companies within RJ Power that can support key areas of the contract and full collaboration with our client.”

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About Eclipse Power

Eclipse Power exists to make it simpler for customers to connect and energise their projects. We do this by creating innovative solutions that challenge industry standards.

Eclipse Power Networks is a fully licenced Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) regulated by OFGEM. As an IDNO they can design, own, operate and maintain electricity networks anywhere in Great Britain.

About RJ Power

RJ Power is a specialist electrical company providing engineering solutions to the power industry. They cover Private Networks and Connections to meet and exceed customers’ requirements in respect of the design, installation, testing and commissioning of power applications in the UK.

Root-Power is today announcing an unprecedented collaboration with five planning consultancies to simultaneously progress 40 applications for Battery Energy Storage projects across the UK, totaling 2GW of energy storage. This monumental enterprise will position Root-Power as a frontrunner in the UK’s renewable energy space.

Launched this year with support from YLEM Group, Root-Power has partnered with Lanpro, PWA Planning, RCA Regeneration, ELG Planning, and Clive Fagg Planning to spearhead their ambitious energy storage initiatives. Each project, ranging from 11 MW to 100 MW with storage duration ranging from 2 hour to 4 hour, will play a crucial role in bolstering the UK’s energy infrastructure, with applications slated for submission throughout the remainder of 2024.

This unparalleled effort marks one of the most significant energy initiatives in the UK today, showcasing Root-Power’s rapid ascent to market leadership. A flagship project in Granborough, Buckinghamshire, is already progressing well, promising a substantial 100MW capacity and 200 MWh of power upon completion.

The consultancies were meticulously chosen for their exemplary records of planning success, each consultancy will tackle between 6 and 10 projects with all 40 projects progressing in parallel through the planning process throughout the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025.

This landmark announcement aligns with the UK government’s renewed emphasis on renewable energy and the launch of GB Energy, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to achieving net zero targets. Battery energy storage systems are set to be pivotal in driving these ambitious plans forward, securing the UK’s status as a global renewable energy powerhouse.

Neil Brooks, Managing Director at Root-Power, commented, “This is an extraordinarily exciting period for Root-Power. This new phase follows nearly 2 years of detailed project development, including site finding and origination, securing connection offers and negotiating with our partner landowners.

Processing 40 applications concurrently exemplifies the exceptional capabilities of our in-house team and their ability to manage complex planning processes at a scale unmatched in our industry. When added to our existing portfolio of battery energy storage under construction this 2GW pipeline will firmly establish Root-Power as a market leader for the years to come.

In addition to this major development, Root-Power recently welcomed Sodali & Co as their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) consultant on a multi-year retainer, further emphasizing their commitment to sustainability.

We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of global ESG advisory firm, Sodali & Co, as we look to develop a market-leading ESG policy and the goal of having our first sustainability report by FY2025.

Sodali & Co holds over 50 years of experience in blue chip ESG and will support Root-Power to develop a successful, holistic approach that will enable the creation of a mature ESG policy. This will be supported by high-quality data and reporting structures aligned with our wider mission and values.

The advisory firm will also be advising us on our sustainability framework, setting a clear direction for our team to follow. The framework will bring together core topics and priorities that have a material impact on our operations.

Neil Brooks, Managing Director at Root-Power said: “We are delighted to have appointed Sodali & Co to help Root-Power develop a market-leading ESG strategy.

“Sodali & Co’s extensive experience developing ESG policy for other leading UK energy companies, and their specialist team’s significant depth of experience engaging with key ESG stakeholders will allow us to better demonstrate and review our ESG credentials.

“With increasing stakeholder attention on ESG concerns, it is crucial Root-Power invests in appointing the right team to improve the quality of our ESG matters at such a critical time in our mission to contribute to a green, more sustainable future for the UK’s energy landscape.”

Sodali & Co has experience working with organisations such as Engie, Philips, Iberdrola and Rio Tinto.

Charles Nelson, Managing Director at Sodali & Co said:

 “We’re delighted to be working with Root-Power and YLEM as they advance and strengthen their ESG policies. We’re excited to help them build a foundation of best-practice that supports their current business objectives, while also preparing them for the wider strategic transformation of sustainability data, and climate transition planning.”

About Sodali & Co

Sodali & Co advises corporate clients worldwide as they navigate the complex dynamic of shareholder and stakeholder interests. The firm supports business leaders in anticipating issues, making better, more informed decisions, and communicating more effectively to drive alignment and accelerate performance.

From headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney to offices in major capital markets, Sodali & Co serves over 2,000 corporate clients in 70 countries, across three practice areas of Shareholder Services, Governance & Sustainability, and Strategic Communications. In addition to listed and private companies, its clients include financial institutions, mutual funds, ETFs, stock exchanges, and membership associations.

Recently, the government announced proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to help achieve sustainable growth in the UK planning system. Now, the UK’s battery storage sector stands on the cusp of a transformative era, fuelled by the Labour Government’s ambitious commitment to establishing the nation as a “clean energy superpower by 2030.”

A record-breaking funding package, dedicating over £1.5 billion to homegrown clean energy projects aimed at bolstering the UK’s energy security, was also announced. The substantial investment promises to catalyse the development of new green infrastructure, essential for achieving clean power within the decade.

The Government’s broader growth agenda focuses on cutting bills, creating jobs, and delivering energy security through cheaper, zero-carbon electricity. This presents a wealth of opportunities for the battery storage industry. As the UK accelerates towards its net-zero goals, the synergy between renewable energy expansion and battery storage will be crucial in ensuring a reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy future.

Increased support for wind and solar

The latest revisions to the NPPF encourage the development of additional wind and solar projects. These onshore renewable technologies are cost-effective, efficient, and rapidly deployable, making them essential elements of the energy portfolio. Combined, they represent more than half of the UK’s renewable electricity generation capacity.

The Planning Act 2008 determined the threshold for which solar and onshore wind projects are considered Nationally Significant Infrastructure. Previously, it stated that consenting decisions in respect of solar and onshore wind projects with a generating capacity of more than 50 megawatts (MW) would be determined by the Secretary of State under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime, which would often see developers bring forward projects just under 50MW. Now, updates to the NPPF proposed would increase the threshold at which solar and onshore wind projects are determined as Nationally Significant to 100MW and 150MW respectively. In proposing to increase the threshold, smaller, less complex projects would be permitted to move through the planning process quicker and at a lower cost.

As many acknowledge battery storage as complimentary to wind and solar, increased support for the two will potentially see increased support for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in the UK. When the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, the UK will need to rely on BESS and its ability to capture and store this energy and purposefully deploy it, subsequently increasing the value of clean energy by increasing production and potentially reducing costs.

With the Labour Government committed to removing barriers and facilitating the biggest upgrade to the UK’s national transmission infrastructure in a generation, it’s essential to investigate how BESS can help get us there.

Encouraging a broader adoption of BESS in the UK

As the UK Government continues its investment towards achieving its energy goals, BESS will play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand. It’s estimated that technologies like BESS, which support the integration of more low-carbon power, heat, and transport technologies, could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion ($48 billion) by 2050, ultimately lowering energy bills for consumers.

Recent years have seen a significant surge in the pipeline of BESS projects, primarily driven by legislative changes and cost reductions. In December 2020, the law was amended. It now allows local planning authorities to determine projects with capacities exceeding 50MW in England and over 350MW in Wales – a process previously managed solely by central government, which was lengthier and more complex.

Despite this rapid growth, several barriers still hinder the broader adoption of BESS technology. Although, with the proposed updates to the NPPF, we will hopefully see greater levels of renewable generation, which in turn can generate a greater need for BESS.

The value of flexibility, and consequently electricity storage, must be reflected in energy markets. This is crucial for achieving further deployment of electricity storage and operating a zero-carbon electricity system.

Promoting the vale of battery storage

As the transition to a renewable energy landscape continues, batteries emerge as the most adaptable solution for stabilising the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation. To fully leverage the benefits of BESS, the UK energy sector must advocate for their value in the energy transition, raise consumer awareness, and push for planning reforms to accelerate adoption and encourage investment opportunities.

With these thoughts in mind, the UK – alongside Labour’s commitment to bringing cheaper, cleaner power, energy security and jobs to every corner of the country – is well positioned to become a world leader in BESS.