News / Energy
Community to co-own commercial battery project for first time
A local community in Bristol are being given the opportunity to co-own a standalone battery asset for the first time.
Thrive Renewables is teaming up with Bristol Energy Co-operative to give residents an opportunity to own a share of its new 20MW battery project.
The battery on Feeder Road is currently being commissioned and will have the capacity to store and deliver 1.5 hours or 30MWh of electricity to the national and local grid.
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.”
Andy O’Brien, co-director of Bristol Energy Cooperative, added: “Community energy gives people agency to take practical action on climate change in their local community.
“This project is a perfect example of how the community coming together can bring about real change. People power fought off a highly-polluting diesel scheme and replaced it with the storage technology we need to help us go net zero.”
Thrive has now funded more than a third of total renewable electricity generation and storage capacity in Bristol.
It has also invested a total of £29m in three projects in the city, including England’s largest onshore wind turbine which is owned by the local community in Lawrence Weston.
Main photo: Jim Johnston
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