
Trafford Battery Energy Storage System
The Trafford Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is at an advanced stage of development, with a fast-track National Grid connection due to be completed in mid-2023.
The Trafford Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a great opportunity to invest approximately £80 million in a large-scale, 250MW BESS project at an advanced stage of development. When completed, it will connect to the National Grid’s transmission system at 400kV.
The developer, Carlton Power, is offering to sell 100% of the project company, with a long-term lease for the site at Trafford Energy Park. This is strategically placed on the National Grid system for both the 400kV transmission network and high pressure gas, as well as the low pressure regional gas network, it is also close to the proposed HyNet Hydrogen networks.
Detailed planning has been obtained for 50MW with 5 hour duration (250MWh) and an amendment is to be made to permit for 250MW with 1 hour duration (250MWh).

Location:
Carrington in Mancheser
Investment type:
Capital investment - energy and infrastructure
Sector:
(Sustainable infrastructure, Energy storage)
Project promoter:
Carlton Power
Scale:
£80 milion
Planning status:
Full planning consent
Time to Final Investment Decision (FID):
0-6 months

Bob Van Aartsen
Senior Investment Specialist
Contact the opportunity lead
Get in touchSector and market opportunity
Battery energy storage is a key technology for the transition to low carbon power generation. Once operational, the Trafford facility will operate in the UK energy market, provide reserve and ancillary services to the grid, and be capable of capturing multiple income streams.
Carlton Power is an experienced power project developer offering to sell 100% of the project SPV, ideally to a strategic investor looking for a project that is ready to be implemented.
An alternative would be for Carlton Power to continue to support development and implementation of the project on behalf of a financial investor, and Carlton Power is flexible and open to other types of partners.
Location
The project is located on Trafford Energy Park, in a long-time industrial area on the site of an old coal fired power station . Trafford Energy Park is being developed as a multi-stage, multi-faceted energy development to support Greater Manchester’s net zero 2038 target – along with the UK’s net zero 2050 target.
These projects include:
- the Li-ion Battery Energy Storage Project
- a Cryobattery, Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) project
- green hydrogen production
- potential hydrogen fuelled Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT)
- net zero industrial projects
Given the prior use of the site as the ash storage area of a former coal fired power station, implementation of the development will need to be managed to mitigate potential legacy ground contamination.
Connectivity
Manchester benefits from a major international airport and excellent rail and road links to the rest of the UK. This includes a 2.5-hour connection to London by train.
Local talent and skills
Manchester and Liverpool have strong industrial and services sectors with a highly trained and flexible workforce.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) highlights
BESS is an essential enabling technology for net zero as the proportion of intermittent renewable power generation increases.
Promoters and partnerships
Carlton Power has been active in developing power projects in the UK for more than 25 years and has strong links with both local and national government organisations.
It has a proven track record of delivering more than 2.5GW of thermal and renewable energy projects, which are now in operation.
Other opportunities
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