'Ground breaking' green energy hub planned for former power station site near Doncaster

Outline plans are set to be revealed for the creation of a groundbreaking green energy hub at the former Thorpe Marsh power station site near Doncaster.

Property, renewable energy and minerals firm The Banks Group is looking to create a new flexible energy management hub through the reclamation and restoration of the derelict former power station, with integrated biodiversity features including wetlands, woodlands and species-rich grassland on a 65-hectare area of land to the west of the village of Barnby Dun.

The project would take advantage of the site’s existing 1,450MW connection to the National Grid and would involve the deployment of what is thought to be the largest battery energy storage system currently being planned in the UK, and one of the largest anywhere in the world.

The hub, which could store up to 2.8GWhrs of energy, would be used to ensure reliable and stable electricity grid operation at times of peak demand and would support the UK’s continuing drive towards its net zero ambitions.

Members of the Banks project team will be available at the appointment-only event to answer queries about the scheme from local residents, businesses and other stakeholders. The team is currently working through the battery design process and is hoping to have the flexible energy hub up and running by the middle of the decade if planning approval is granted.

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at The Banks Group, says: “Our vision is to deliver a range of long-term environmental, energy security, employment, economic and community benefits through the reclamation and restoration of this landmark site while also supporting the UK’s drive towards its crucial net zero targets.”

To prepare the Thorpe Marsh site, the first phase of the project proposes to progressively remove and reclaim the power station’s former ash disposal area by recovering up to 2.25m tonnes of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) over a five-year period, which can be used as a secondary aggregate to make concrete blocks while also contributing to the decarbonisation of the construction industry.

The planning applications for the different parts of the project could be submitted to Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council in the coming months, with Banks hoping to be able to begin work on site by 2024 if they are approved.

Lewis Stokes continues: “Thorpe Marsh’s existing grid connection and its proximity to where much of the energy that will be produced by the east coast’s growing portfolio of wind farms will come ashore makes it an excellent location for this project, and we are excited to develop designs for what we believe will be the UK’s largest battery storage facility.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily