Battery Storage Projects Deliver Biodiversity Gains in UK

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In recent months, significant battery energy storage systems (BESS) across the UK have not only boosted renewable energy integration but also delivered notable environmental benefits through biodiversity net gain. Two major developments demonstrate this dual contribution to energy resilience and ecological enhancement.

First, construction has begun on the Staythorpe BESS in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The £71.5 million project, led by Mitie Power & Grid in partnership with Elements Green, is one of Europe’s largest battery storage facilities, offering 360MW/720MWh capacity with an associated 400kV grid substation. Once operational expected by mid-2027 it will be able to power over 95,000 homes for an entire day and is projected to run for 40 years. Importantly, the project commits to delivering a 25.7% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), planting 12 acres of woodland, wildflower meadows, and over 120 trees. Elements Green has also pledged to maintain community engagement throughout the project’s life.

Earlier in the year, Balance Power secured planning approval for the Radwell Bury BESS in Hertfordshire. The 49.5MW facility consisting of 48 battery units and offering two hours storage duration will help power approximately 26,767 homes and cut CO₂ emissions by around 18,281 tonnes annually. Impressively, the development integrates a 44.25% biodiversity net gain, incorporating protections for existing woodland belts, hedgerows, and meadow grasslands.

These projects exemplify how energy infrastructure can be designed to support net-zero ambitions while protecting, and even enhancing, biodiversity. Rather than viewing ecological preservation as a trade-off to renewable energy deployment, developers are increasingly embedding nature-based solutions into project planning and delivery.

What this means:

The Staythorpe and Radwell BESS developments illustrate that large-scale battery storage can provide essential grid flexibility while advancing environmental stewardship. Embedding biodiversity net gain into these projects ensures that net-zero infrastructure aligns with broader ecological goals.

Policymakers, planners, and developers should view these cases as benchmarks for future infrastructure projects demonstrating that environmental gains are not only possible, but integral to sustainable energy transitions.

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