WORK will begin in the coming weeks to utilise part of the Fiddler’s Ferry power station site for a new energy storage scheme.

SSE Renewables has announced that Stockport-based OCU Energy will be principal contractor for the 150MW battery storage project at the closed facility.

Meanwhile Fluence, a global leader in energy storage, has been selected as the supplier of the lithium-ion batteries.

The Cuerdley site was decommissioned in March 2020, and the demolition of the first four cooling occurred in December.

Grand plans have been unveiled for the huge site, including hundreds of new homes and industrial warehouses.

Before then, an electrical battery storage facility will be built at the former coal-fired power station.

Once completed and fully operational, the scheme will be capable of running for up to two hours at a time, and of storing power for release back to the UK National Grid when it is needed the most – helping to manage peaks of energy demand.

This flexibility helps balance energy supply and demand more effectively and maximise the potential of available renewable technology to power the grid.

Richard Cave-Bigley, director of solar and battery at SSE Renewables, said: “We are delighted to be working with OCU Energy once again, and to have Fluence Energy as our battery supplier at Fiddler’s Ferry.

“Battery storage systems like Fiddler’s Ferry will be key in the UK’s transition to net-zero, and I am looking forward to seeing the project progress through construction in the coming months.”