Thorpe marsh Battery storage facility

2 hours storage or 60 years supply, same costs Smrs or battery storage

Thorpe marsh With a estimated expenditure of approximately €1.365 billion.

The Thorpe Marsh battery energy storage project in South Yorkshire is set to become the UK’s largest, with a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (GW) and 3.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of storage.

Construction Cost Breakdown:

While specific cost details for the Thorpe Marsh project have not been publicly disclosed, we can estimate potential costs based on industry averages and the project’s scale:

1. Battery Containers:

Capacity per Container: A typical utility-scale battery container, such as Tesla’s Megapack, can store up to 3 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity.

Number of Containers Required: To achieve the total storage capacity of 3,100 MWh at Thorpe Marsh, approximately 1,034 containers (3,100 MWh ÷ 3 MWh per container) would be needed.



2. Cost per Container:

While Tesla has not publicly disclosed the exact price of a Megapack, industry estimates suggest that the cost of battery cells accounts for 30-40% of total system costs.

Assuming a cost of €250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for battery cells, the cost per MWh would be €250,000.

Therefore, the cost per 3 MWh container would be approximately €750,000.



3. Total Battery Container Cost:

Multiplying the number of containers (1,034) by the estimated cost per container (€750,000) results in a total battery container cost of approximately €775.5 million.



4. Additional Costs:

Power Conversion Systems: These include inverters and transformers, representing approximately 15-20% of the total investment, with costs ranging from €50 to €80 per kW.

Balance of Plant (BoP): This encompasses civil works, electrical infrastructure, and other ancillary components.

Grid Connection: Costs associated with connecting the storage system to the national grid.

Financing and Transaction Costs: At current interest rates, these can be around 20% of total project costs.




Estimated Total Capital Expenditure:

Considering these components, the total capital expenditure for the Thorpe Marsh project could be estimated as follows:

Battery Containers: €775.5 million

Power Conversion Systems: Assuming 17.5% of total investment, approximately €162 million

Balance of Plant and Grid Connection: Estimated at €200 million

Financing and Transaction Costs: Approximately 20% of total project costs, around €227 million


Summing these estimates results in a total capital expenditure of approximately €1.365 billion.

Note: These figures are rough estimates based on available industry data and assumptions. Actual costs can vary significantly based on specific project requirements, technological choices, market conditions, and negotiations with suppliers and contractors. For precise financial details, consulting official project releases or contacting Fidra Energy directly would provide the most accurate information.