Bristol-based Thrive Renewables has offered Bristol Energy Co-operative (BEC) the opportunity to co-invest in its new 20MW/30MWh battery project.
The project is located in Feeder Road in Bristol, an industrial and residential area and Thrive says if BEC takes the 20% stake offered it would be the first commercial project of its kind where an owner has offered the local community an opportunity to co-own a standalone battery asset. The battery is currently being commissioned.
The site was originally destined to be a diesel-fuelled STOR plant in 2020. A group of residents from St Phillip’s Marsh formed Residents Against Dirty Energy and the planning application was rejected. Stuart Phelps, core member at RADE said: “Eight years ago, RADE formed to fight 48 diesel generators 100m from the nursery school. We’ve come full circle and welcome a battery storage scheme on the same site.”
Matthew Clayton, Managing Director of Thrive Renewables, said: “Battery storage is a critical technology for the UK to reach net zero, storing electricity when renewable power is abundant and making it available during peak times when consumption is at its highest. We’re thrilled to be working with the local community on this project, which not only supports the UK’s net zero goals, but Bristol’s ambition to become a carbon neutral city by 2030.”
Thrive has invested £29 million in Bristol’s clean energy infrastructure, funding 32.4 MW of clean capacity (37% of Bristol’s total). That includes a 8.2MW wind farm in Avonmouth and a £4 million loan to Ambition Community Energy in 2022 to fund the construction of a community-owned onshore wind turbine.