A New Age of Electricity

RENEWABLE ENERGY

The Climate Change Act 2008 is the UK’s primary legislation which sets out a legal requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% against a 1990 baseline by 2050.

In 2019, the Government raised the UK’s commitment in tackling climate change by legislating a net-zero target by 2050.

To achieve this target, the UK Government committed to decarbonising the electricity system by 2035, i.e. an electricity system that is powered solely by nuclear, low carbon and renewable energy.

In addition to the net zero targets and commitments above, the Government has issued a Plan to make Great Britain energy independent. To achieve this, the Government has set a target to double Britain’s electricity generation by 2030.

To transition to a net-zero electricity system and to achieve energy security, utility-scale battery energy storage systems and solar developments will be required to meet existing and future energy needs.

EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGIES

For a sustainable future

At Firstway Energy, we're committed to building a sustainable future for our planet. Our team of experts work together to design and develop cutting-edge solar farms and battery storage sites.

SOLAR

Utility scale solar, or solar farms as they are commonly known, generate renewable energy through photovoltaic cells, or solar panels. Solar panels are predominantly made of silicon crystals which convert daylight/sunlight into electricity, creating a clean, renewable source of energy.

The electricity from the panels is generated in DC format and is converted to AC format by inverters. Before entering the electricity grid, the voltage of the energy is stepped up to the correct scale through transformers.

CO-LOCATION

Co-location is the location of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage within the same site as part of the same project. Co-location means that energy can be stored directly onsite when required to ensure the solar energy generation is maximised. To deliver a co-located project specific connections need to be agreed and secured with the electricity provider.

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS (BESS)

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are known as ‘intermittent’ energy sources. This means they only produce energy either when there is sufficient wind to turn the turbines or when there is daylight to power the solar panels. When combined with varying energy consumption patterns this means that now, and as we continue to move to net zero, there can be significant imbalances between supply and demand. For example, when supply outstrips demand, wind farms and solar farms are switched off. The wind and solar energy companies are compensated for switching off their power, known as curtailment payments, which are ultimately added to energy bills. As more and more renewable energy projects come on-stream, the risk of more wind and solar developments being asked to switch off in times of low demand will increase.

Additionally, in times of high demand, and as more renewable projects come on-stream, energy generation will become more and more intermittent and in times of high demand power stations such as nuclear power stations or gas power stations will need to fill the demand gap when the network cannot be powered by renewables and nuclear alone.

Battery energy storage systems, provide the solution to these problems, and supports net zero energy generation. It does this by storing the electricity produced in times of low demand to prevent oversupply, and discharge electricity in times of high demand to prevent undersupply and the requirement to turn to gas power stations on, to meet the undersupply.

Battery energy storage systems are a key facilitator in supporting the continued, full, deployment of renewable energy by providing system stability to replace existing carbon intensive fossil fuel power stations, which will in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute significantly to the transition to net-zero.

TECHNOLOGY FAQs

Please also see our Landowner FAQs section

What is battery storage?

Battery storage or battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology has a critical part to play as we shift away from fossil fuels and complement renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The battery systems proposed are based on cutting edge technology, but in simple terms, the individual lithium-ion battery cells are very similar to those found in many products we use in our daily lives, such as rechargeable vacuums, rechargeable lights, rechargeable power tools and electric cars. The previous energy system relied on fossil fuels (e.g. coal and gas) and the relevant quantity of coal and gas would be burned to meet the demand needed. As we move to 100% net zero/renewables (e.g. solar and wind) energy network the energy can only be generated when there is sufficient wind speed and/or daylight. The benefits of battery storage are threefold: 1) At times when surplus electricity is being generated from sources such as wind and solar, or when demand is low, electricity charges the batteries, this allows the energy to be used at a later time by the electricity network when the demand arises, e.g peak evening demand (6pm onwards) when demand is highest. 2) The batteries enable there to be a constant supply of electricity when the wind speed is not sufficient and/or there is no daylight. 3) The batteries ensure that any excess energy generated through solar and wind that is not required immediately by the grid is captured, so nothing is wasted.
Will a solar farm or battery storage development change the land classification?

A solar farm or battery storage development is a temporary land use and assists landowners with farm diversification. It does not change the permanent land classification of the site.
Will a solar farm or battery energy storage system catch fire?

There is a very low risk of a solar farm or battery energy storage system catching fire. Components of the solar farms and BESS are built using fire-resistant materials and the layout of the developments includes adequate separation to prevent the spread of a fire, if a fire was to occur. As necessary, components have fire detection systems and fire suppression systems built in (e.g sprinkler or mist system) to best practice industry standards.
Will the site be returned to its previous use?

Yes, planning permission is sought on a temporary basis (usually 30-40 years) and planning conditions will ensure that the site is returned to its previous condition. During the operation of the site, the operator will pay into a decommissioning fund which will cover the removal of all infrastructure and restoration of the site to its previous condition. A decommissioning plan will also be conditioned by the Planning Authority which will require their approval.
Are solar farms and batteries energy storage systems noisy?

Noise can be generated by certain elements of a project to assist in the cooling of equipment within the containers/buildings associated with the proposals. The noise is considered to be negligible to low in most cases and where a noise impact is predicted, mitigations measures are proposed to ensure there will be no unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of surrounding uses. Noise will be generated during construction but this will be temporary in nature and in accordance with British Standard 5228 Code of Practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites. All projects will be supported by a Noise Impact Assessment at the planning application stage, for the local planning authority to approve.
Are solar farm and battery energy storage systems components recyclable?

Yes, as a renewable developer we are committed to ensuring that sustainability is at the core of each project. As such, we seek to use manufacturers and components that comply with European Union Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, which seeks the efficient use of resources, and the retrieval of raw materials through re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery.
What are the traffic impacts from the development?

The core traffic impacts from the development will be during construction. These movements will be for a temporary period and set out in a Construction Traffic Management Plan supporting all planning applications. During operation, there will be minimal vehicle movements, with 1-2 vehicle (small van) movements expected per month for maintenance purposes. The predicted vehicle movements will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval.

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