Bluefield Solar and Lightrock Power secure planning for 100MW BESS
Publish Time：2025-01-25
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Developer Lightrock Power has been granted planning permission for a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) from the Mid Sussex District Council.
The site of the Libra Energy Stability project, to be delivered in collaboration with the Bluefield Solar Income Fund, will total 1.28 hectares, lying 450m east of the Bolney GSP substation. It will include 52 battery storage containers and construction is expected to last for nine months once engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts are procured.
Plans for the site include the creation of new hedgerows together with restoration and improvements to existing ones. Image: Lightrock Power.
According to the companies, although the Libra project was submitted before mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) standards came into force, the development will still meet what is now required. This is in line with Lightrock’s founders’ commitment to building wildlife-friendly projects.
The BESS facility is the second project that Bluefield and Lightrock received consent for this week, having already been given the go ahead for a 40MW solar plant near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
The development, Parc Worlton Solar Farm, will deliver a 55% biodiversity net gain. In 2021, the developer partnered with the RSPB and it and works with wildlife organisations including the UK Wild Otter Trust. The Libra BESS project will prioritise the turtle dove population in its BNG measures.
Head of planning and environment at Lightrock Power, Jo Mott, said the consent was particularly well received because “the planning process was hindered by fluctuating BESS fire safety requirements”.
Rick Von Poten, head of grid at Lightrock, added: “The importance of receiving consent for Libra today cannot be understated when the alternatives could have had repercussions in light of connections reform and Clean Power 2030 on our grid connection.”
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