Balance Power approves 49.5MW Hinckley energy storage project

Balance Power gets the go-ahead for a 49.5MW battery energy storage project in Hinckley, designed to support the flexibility and stability of the UK energy grid.
Illustration de batteries Balance Power

Partagez:

Balance Power’s 49.5MW/99MWh battery energy storage project in Hinckley receives planning approval from Rugby Borough Council.
The storage system is designed to store surplus renewable energy and redistribute it at times of peak demand, enabling more efficient management of electricity supply.
The growing importance of energy storage in a grid dominated by intermittent sources, such as wind and solar, makes it an essential part of the UK’s energy strategy.
The project comprises 28 battery units and aims to improve grid flexibility by reducing the need to rely on traditional thermal power stations during periods of high demand.
This ability to modulate electricity supply contributes to better integration of renewable energies and more optimal use of existing infrastructure.

Impact on CO2 emissions and life cycle management

The Hinckley facility could reduce CO2 emissions by almost 20,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to taking 4,300 cars off the road.
The project also includes measures to limit its footprint on the local environment, including the complete restoration of the site after its 40-year life cycle.
Planning calls for the dismantling of equipment and the rehabilitation of the land, an element often required by local authorities to minimize the long-term impact of energy infrastructures.
Commissioning of the site is scheduled for October 2025.
This deadline depends on the construction schedule, which has yet to be confirmed.
Balance Power’s approach is in line with a growing trend in the industry to ensure greater grid flexibility while meeting strict sustainability and resource management standards.

A response to the challenges of grid flexibility

The importance of energy storage facilities continues to grow in the UK, as the share of renewable energies increases.
Battery storage offers an effective solution to the intermittent nature of wind and solar generation, enabling demand to be met in real time without compromising grid stability.
This project is part of a dynamic in which storage is becoming a pillar for maintaining security of supply, especially in times of energy transition.
Balance Power’s experience in managing similar energy projects plays a key role in navigating complex planning processes and aligning performance targets with local and national regulatory requirements.
Since 2017, the company has submitted nearly 40 projects for approval by the relevant authorities, gradually increasing the storage capacity available on the UK grid.

Outlook for the energy storage sector

With almost 2GW of storage projects under development, the sector is showing a dynamic drive to find solutions to enhance grid resilience.
Installations such as Hinckley offer viable options for increasing operational flexibility, stabilizing the grid in the face of supply and demand fluctuations, and effectively integrating new low-carbon generation sources.
The ongoing development of battery storage in the UK is responding to the needs of a transforming grid.
Market players, including independent developers, are adapting their strategies to maximize the benefits of these new infrastructures while minimizing the risks associated with increased reliance on renewable energies.

The Ignitis Group is starting the construction of three battery energy storage systems in Lithuania, with a combined capacity of 291 MW and a total investment of €130mn.
Alinta Energy has appointed GenusPlus Group to build the first phase of the Reeves Plains Energy Hub Battery, a high-capacity storage facility designed to support grid stability in South Australia.
A partnership between Indonesia Battery and Contemporary Amperex Technology aims to launch a lithium-ion battery plant in Indonesia by the end of 2026, with a 6.9 gigawatt-hour capacity and planned expansion.
State Grid Wuzhong Power Supply Company announces the completion of the energy storage compartment at Tongli substation, a key step for the upcoming integration of a 300 MW shared storage power plant in Ningxia.
Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy finalise commercial agreements for a 153 MW energy storage project in South Africa, aimed at enhancing national grid stability and optimising peak energy management.
Estimated at 40.9 billion dollars in 2024, the global microgrid market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 19.28% to reach 191.01 billion dollars by 2033, driven notably by innovative energy contracts.
The U.S. energy storage market set a historic record in early 2025, surpassing 2 GW installed in the first quarter despite increasing uncertainty regarding federal fiscal policies and tax credits.
The Sino-Moroccan joint venture COBCO has begun manufacturing essential lithium-ion battery components at its Jorf Lasfar plant, targeting a final annual capacity of 70 GWh, enough to equip one million electric vehicles.
Blue Whale Energy partners with UNIGRID to deploy behind-the-meter storage systems adapted to constrained commercial and industrial urban areas in Southeast Asia.
Northvolt, recently placed under judicial administration, has received an indicative offer from a foreign investor to acquire its Swedish assets, signaling a potential imminent restart of its battery production units.
The frame agreement aligns Jinko ESS’s utility-scale storage technology with Metlen’s development pipeline, unlocking more than 3GWh across Chile and Europe while reducing delivery risk for grid operators.
Buffalo-based Viridi has obtained the cETLus mark for its RPS150 system, meeting the UL 9540 standard only days after a public battery fire-containment demonstration.
Tesla is building a giant electricity storage facility in Shanghai, China, signing a $560 million contract to meet growing demands on the urban electricity grid.
Envision Energy signs a turnkey contract with Kallista Energy for a 120 MW / 240 MWh energy storage project in Saleux, Hauts-de-France, marking its entry into France’s stationary battery market.
The Dubai-based company obtains a USD72mn loan to add a 300MWh battery system to its 500MW solar plant in Kom Ombo, with commissioning expected in July 2025.
Asian developer Gurīn Energy selected Saft to supply a battery storage system exceeding 1 GWh in Fukushima, marking a new stage in Japan’s energy storage deployment.
Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer CBAK Energy confirmed a $11.6mn order for LFP cylindrical batteries to power the electric motorcycle fleet of a rapidly growing African group.
China’s 600MW/2400MWh project enters energisation phase following the installation of 240 battery containers, initiating initial maintenance of this ultra-high-voltage hybrid energy facility.
Wanhua Chemical has signed a strategic agreement with Serbian manufacturer ElevenEs to establish a localised supply chain for LFP battery materials, reinforcing their technical and industrial cooperation in the European market.
The partnership targets the development, construction and operation of over 500 MW of battery energy storage systems in France, with 200 MW nearing the construction phase.