Northumberland Estates has identified two potential sites in North Tyneside where it hopes to mount a move into the energy storage market.
The Newcastle-based business has submitted planning applications for battery energy storage systems near the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estates and at Holystone, each with the capacity to store up to 50MW of energy created by renewable sources such as wind farms. The developments would include battery energy storage containers and substation buildings, together with associated electrical infrastructure, small operational buildings, security fencing, CCTV, improved access tracks and structural landscaping.
At the same time, Northumberland Estates - the business arm of the Duke of Northumberland and his family - said it plans to invest in solar energy with large-scale developments and rooftop projects being prepared. Planning documents show the Estates has sought a screening opinion on proposals for 28MW solar farm on land north of Backworth village - a move that Northumberland County Council said it had no objection to.
