Plans for 25-hectare battery energy storage system on farmland at Bicker Fen

An application to site a 25-hectare battery energy storage system on farmland land has been lodged.

Bicker Drove Ltd want to construct the BESS on land east of Bicker Fen substation.

“The proposed development comprises the construction and operation of a BESS of approximately 1.2 gigawatts electrical capacity with other ancillary and associated infrastructure, which includes access, internal tracks, and buried cabling,” the planning statement prepared by agent DWD says.

“The BESS will connect to the National Grid via an onsite 400/33kV substation, and the point of connection’ will be the National Grid Bicker Fen Substation located adjacent west of the site on the other side of Vicarage Drove.

“At its closest point, Bicker Fen Substation is located approximately 50 metres to the southwest of the application site. The connection will be via a 400kV underground cable.

Battery boxes store energy when demand is low and release it when there is a demand.

“The site comprises approximately 24.28 hectares of agricultural land, consisting of the 16.99 ha area in which the BESS compound is proposed and a 7.19 hectare field to the north,” the statement added.

“The site boundary also includes the intervening section of public highway (Bicker Drove), linking the two parcels.

“The main site is spread across two field parcels located to the east of Vicarage Drove, to the south of Bicker Drove, and to the northwest of Hammond Beck.

The application has been made to Boston Borough Council.