Huge jobs boost as battery storage site planned for Teesworks

More than 100 jobs will be supported under plans to build a multi-million pound battery storage facility at the Teesworks development on Teesside.

Teesworks Ltd has reached an agreement with battery storage specialist Energy Optimisation Solutions (EOS) to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a three-acre plot at the Long Acres section of the 2,500 acre Teesworks site. The £62m facility will reportedly enable up to 100 Megawatts (MW) of additional green energy to be plugged into the grid.

Over the course of a year, it is claimed the EOS facility will help cut carbon emissions by 4,000 metric tons – the equivalent of driving a car 11.6 million kilometres or 289 times around the world. Battery storage technology is being used to speed up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy.

Battery storage systems enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when the power is needed most. This helps to ensure homes and businesses can be powered by green energy, even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind has stopped blowing.

The EOS agreement is one of a number of renewable energy projects planned for the Teesworks site, including blue and green hydrogen production plants and the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) project.

Last month, it was revealed that renewables developer NatPower plans to build a 1GW battery energy storage system (BESS) at Teesworks.

Teesworks Limited chairman, Chris Musgrave, said: “This latest agreement will further enhance Teesworks’ credentials as a leading UK centre for the transition to Net Zero. Battery storage is an essential component in ensuring that energy needs can be met from renewable sources regardless of weather conditions. We’re looking forward to working with the team at EOS to bring their technology to Teesworks.”

An application for planning permission for the development is currently being finalised by EOS. If permission is granted, it is anticipated that building the battery storage facility will take around 12 months in total and will support over 100 jobs in the construction sector.

EOS has a number of battery storage projects already under way in the UK, including a 230MW facility at Newport in South Wales. Peter Walker, director at EOS, said: “We’re really looking forward to coming to Teesworks. With so much renewable energy development planned for the site, such a supportive environment and such an experienced team in charge, it makes for the ideal location for our next battery storage facility.

“If we as a country are going to hit our Net Zero ambitions then energy storage is absolutely essential. You can store water in reservoirs and gas in gasometers and LPG form so you can use those resources when you need them. Battery storage systems mean that you can do the same thing with energy generated from renewable sources.”

The planned site for the EOS facility is at the south west corner of the Teesworks site. It adjoins the area where hydrogen production facilities HyGreen Teesside and H2 Teesside and the Net Zero Teesside project are being planned to be built.

Led by bp and aiming to start production in 2026, HyGreen Teesside is mooted to be one of the UK’s biggest green hydrogen facilities.

H2 Teesside, again led by bp, is planned to be one of the UK’s largest blue hydrogen production facilities, potentially supplying over 10 per cent of the UK government’s ambition for 10GW of hydrogen by 2030. Net Zero Teesside Power aims to be one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture, and the hub of a decarbonised group of industries on Teesside.

Teesworks was previously a 50-50 public-private partnership but local developers Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney came to take a 90pc stake in it. As reported, the published accounts revealed turnover at Europe’s largest brownfield site more than doubled from £53.9m a year earlier to £142.9m with net profits of £54m.

An independent inquiry found no evidence to support allegations of corruption or illegality linked to the finances at the controversial Teesworks development, but questions were raised over governance and transparency.

For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter