Grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are increasingly important for supporting renewable energy integration and relieving network constraints. However, their development requires land and grid connection infrastructure that can create additional pressures on biodiversity if ecological impacts are not considered early in the planning process.

This project develops a biodiversity-aware planning framework that integrates spatial biodiversity data with power-system and economic modelling to identify suitable locations and capacities for grid-scale BESS. Using multi-objective optimisation, the framework explores trade-offs between biodiversity impact and economic cost while ensuring that planned BESS can deliver required grid services.