How Energy Storage Gets Built with Bex Sherwood (Field)

How Energy Storage Gets Built with Bex Sherwood (Field)

by Modo Energy

Applied Sciences & Engineering Energy THEnergy technology and engineeringTHYEnergy, power generation, distribution and storage
🎙 Modo Energy 👥 25K 📅 September 25, 2025 ⏱ 43 min 👁 2K 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

battery storagedevelopmentgrid connectionsplanningClean Power 2030

Summary

In this episode of Transmission, Ed from Modo Energy interviews Bex Sherwood, Head of Development at Field, about the process of developing grid-scale battery storage projects. Bex explains how Field identifies sites based on grid needs, such as constraint management and stability services, and considers constructibility. She details the development timeline, from origination to handing over to construction, highlighting that it can take around four years and over a million pounds to get a project to the planning stage, with additional costs for grid securities and technical assessments. The conversation covers the impact of connections reform and Clean Power 2030, noting that while reforms aim to accelerate projects, there are concerns about spatial maps not aligning with actual system needs. Bex also discusses the challenges of planning, the importance of attrition rates in project pipelines, and Field’s evolution into an owner-operator-optimizer with its in-house platform Gaia. The episode concludes with a discussion on the need for a diverse workforce in STEM and the energy sector.

165 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable insights into the practical realities of developing battery storage projects, which are often overlooked in high-level discussions. Bex Sherwood offers concrete details on costs, timelines, and regulatory processes, grounding the conversation in real-world experience. The argumentation is coherent and well-structured, moving from site selection to regulatory challenges and future outlook. The discussion is balanced, acknowledging both the benefits and potential unintended consequences of recent policy changes. The guest’s dual role as a developer and chair of a planning working group adds credibility and depth to the analysis.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate; the content is based on expert opinion and industry experience rather than peer-reviewed research. The sources cited are primarily institutional (Field, Modo Energy, Regen) and are relevant to the discussion. The title accurately reflects the content, which is a focused interview on energy storage development. The video does not present unverified claims, and the guest is transparent about the limitations of her expertise in certain areas (e.g., optimization). Overall, the information is reliable for an industry audience, though it lacks formal citations.

193 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on how energy storage projects are developed, with Bex Sherwood from Field as the main guest.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The video features a senior industry expert (Head of Development at Field) discussing practical aspects of battery storage development, with references to specific regulatory processes (connections reform, Clean Power 2030) and real project examples. The information is consistent with known industry practices and is presented in a professional, non-sensational manner. However, it is primarily anecdotal and lacks peer-reviewed sources or quantitative data, so a high but not perfect score is warranted.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Modo Energy — The host's company, providing energy market analysis and data.
  • Field — The guest's company, a battery storage developer and operator.
  • Weekly Dispatch Newsletter — Modo Energy's newsletter mentioned in the description.

Concurring Sources

  • Modo Energy — The host's platform provides data and analysis on energy storage, aligning with the discussion.

Contribution & Novelties

The video offers a rare, detailed look into the practical steps and costs involved in developing grid-scale battery storage in the UK, particularly highlighting the impact of recent regulatory changes like connections reform and Clean Power 2030. It provides a realistic assessment of project attrition and the challenges of planning, which is valuable for industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Battery storage in the UK — Overview of battery storage technology and applications.
  • Clean Power 2030 — UK government’s plan for a decarbonized power sector by 2030.
  • Connections reform — National Grid ESO’s page on grid connection reforms.
  • Regen Planning Working Group — Regen’s initiative to improve planning for renewable energy projects.

115 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, reflecting the detailed and expert-driven content. The technical level is moderately high, suitable for an industry audience. The overall reliability is strong due to the guest's expertise and the professional production, though it relies on anecdotal evidence rather than formal research.

Reliability 8/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.