Once completed, Sheaf Energy Park will complement the 100MW/100MWh Richborough Energy Park. Image: Pacific Green

Pacific Green has marked significant milestones in the construction of its 373.5MWh Sheaf Energy Park in Kent, England.

The battery energy storage system (BESS) project, developed on the brownfield site of the former Richborough coal-fired power station, will serve as an essential asset for energy storage and transmission, supporting the Nemo Link interconnector with Belgium and the nearby Thanet Offshore Wind Farm.

The Sheaf Energy Park is a collaboration between Pacific Green and Sosteneo, the asset owner. Once completed, the park will complement the operational 100MW/100MWh Richborough Energy Park, forming a key hub for energy storage in the UK. With site preparation and groundworks completed, Pacific Green has recently installed the first of 34 Power Conversion Systems (PCS) containers, following the delivery of 68 containers after successful Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).

Future plans involve the installation of 135 liquid-cooled, LFP battery containers, which will follow a ‘just-in-time’ approach to ensure smooth integration into the grid ahead of the energisation phase.

In November 2023, the Sheaf Energy Park project secured a combined £123.5 million facility to support its construction. The facility consisted of a £120 million capex loan and a £3.5 million VAT facility. NatWest and UK Infrastructure Bank (UIB) provided the loan, with each holding a 50% share, while NatWest solely funded the VAT facility.

Christo Hammes, chief operating officer at Pacific Green, said: “Located at a former industrial site and with an excellent grid connection, Sheaf Energy Park will be a strategic asset for the UK’s energy grid—and in many ways is a true symbol of the energy transition. Coupled with Richborough Energy Park, this project embodies Pacific Green’s commitment to UK energy storage and is laying the foundation for future growth.”

“We are pleased with progress to date, having hit a number of our key development milestones, and we are committed to maintaining dialogue with our stakeholders and the community as we bring the project through to commissioning next year.”

Community engagement & biodiversity

Formerly a coal-fired power station, the site’s transformation into a green energy hub is a significant step in the shift from fossil fuels to renewables. Community engagement is a cornerstone of the project. The development will prioritise local concerns and promote biodiversity, including rewilding 10,000m² of land, removing contaminated landfill, and achieving a claimed biodiversity net gain of 14.91%.

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