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Plans for battery boxes in Spalding will play an important role in securing our energy supply - and saving the roads being dug up




Telephone boxes and substations are things that we have taken for granted as part of a street scene but something new could be joining them which will play an important role in our energy supply.

AMP Clean Energy has recently submitted a number of planning applications to install battery boxes at a number of locations across Spalding and the wider area.

The country’s energy security - and how we store power - have become important issues in recent years. The Russian invasion of Ukraine had sent energy bills soaring, heaping more misery onto families in the cost of living crisis.

How a battery box could look
How a battery box could look

However, the company, which helps find practical decarbonisation solutions, feels that it’s battery boxes are a key component to ensure that we can keep the lights on and power running.

And more of these battery boxes - which would fit in two car parking spaces - could become more commonplace in streets up and down the country.

Head of development at the firm Ben Wallace said: “We have a built up environment which has infrastructure in it. We have small substations for homes and businesses, telephone kiosks and the gas network. These keep our community running.

Ben Wallace is the head of development for AMP Clean Energy
Ben Wallace is the head of development for AMP Clean Energy

“The world is changing and two things are shifting at the moment - we have seen huge growth in wind and solar power and they are brilliant for the net zero journey but they are not very good at producing power when we need it.

He later said: “There should be overarching benefits - electricity bills stay low, good future connection and good network strength that feeds hour homes and businesses.”

The National Grid has stated on its website that battery storage technology is going to play an important role by helping to speed up the process of removing fossil fuels along with supporting renewable technology to meet the demand for power.

A battery box which has been installed in an another area
A battery box which has been installed in an another area

The new Government has also set out its plans for the UK to become a ‘clean energy super power’ by harnessing the country’s natural resources - which included removing the onshore wind turbine ban.

But an issue with renewable energy is that the wind may not blow at the times when energy is needed or it can provide too much power when it is not.

This is where battery boxes can step into the breach.

A mural which outlines the importance of battery boxes
A mural which outlines the importance of battery boxes

Mr Wallace explained: “It is very difficult to bring renewable technology to our urban areas wind farms are big things.

“Battery boxes take energy from the grid when we are loaded with wind and solar power.

“We store that within our box and when we need that power we give that electricity back to the network.

“Most people build batteries in large fields but that doesn’t help in our towns and villages.

“What tends to happen is that we would charge overnight when prices are lower. We export back between 4-7pm when demand is higher

“By building battery boxes we can help local communities get access to the network so they can keep doing the things like charging electric vehicles and heat pumps - it’s really important to put these into the local area.”

A battery box is the size of two car parking spaces and can store enough power to feed 200 homes for four hours.

The company has submitted 70 planning applications for boxes across the country including sites in Spalding. This includes Roman Bank, Parkside Crescent, plus on land where Holbeach Road meets Queens Road.

Mr Wallace said the equipment is being used by UK Power Networks or the National Grid to manage it’s network.

He also said this equipment also helps save inconvenience for motorists.

Mr Wallace said: ““Having a battery box increases the capacity of the network and saves digging up the road to replace cables.”

What do you think? Let us know your views in the comments below…



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