Plans to build an energy storage system in Eartham have been submitted to Chichester District Council.
The application from Net Zero Fifteen Ltd, seeks permission to keep the system on land near Ounces Barn, off Tinwood Lane, for 40 years.
If approved, the system would be able to supply enough energy to the National Grid to power more than 20,000 homes – 70MW.
It would be made up of 72 batteries arranged mainly in clusters of eight, and include a 132kV substation.
Access to the site would be via a track from the A285, though there would be emergency access from Tinwood Lane.
A 240,000 litre water tank would be installed at the main entrance for use by the emergency services.
The site would be unmanned and unlit, with maintenance visits expected twice a month.
A design statement submitted with the application said: “Electricity storage is essential for a net zero energy system – it stores electricity when it is abundant for periods when it is scarce, as well as providing a range of services to help maintain the resilience and stability of the grid.
“The need for electricity storage is rising as we increase the volume of variable renewables and increase peak demand through the electrification of heat and transport.
“It will be critical to maintaining energy security as we shift away from gas over the 2020s-30s.
“It is therefore clear that the delivery of energy storage system] schemes is vital.”
To view the application, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 24/02040/FUL.
