Vattenfall UK responds to the Government's decision to relax planning restrictions around energy storage batteries

Commenting on the Government’s decision relax planning restrictions around energy storage batteries, Jake Dunn, Renewable Development Manager at Vattenfall UK, said:

“The Government’s decision to ease planning restrictions, so that more and larger energy storage can be installed is absolutely the right way to go. The UK will never be free from fossil-fuels until electricity storage is part of our energy system, but the volumes of power we need to be able to store are huge.

“However, it’s crucial that storage is co-located at solar and wind farm sites, due to the significant logistical and cost benefits that co-location offers for grid connections and land. The electricity grid also needs urgent upgrades to be able to cope with the increasing demand for electricity, as we reduce the use of other fuels in our lives, as well as being able to accommodate more renewable generation and greater flexibility in terms of consumer usage.

“Vattenfall is a market leader in co-located storage, building the UK’s first co-located battery storage (22MW) at the Pen y Cymoedd onshore wind farm, and we are progressing further co-located battery storage at our other sites.”

Notes

More information on the Government’s announcement to remove barriers for storage projects above 50 MW in England and 350 MW in Wales can be found on the BEIS website.

In the UK, Vattenfall operates a 22MW battery at the Pen y Cymoedd onshore wind farm in south Wales.  Meanwhile, a 20MW battery at our Ray onshore wind farm has been consented, and we are also looking at the potential for co-located battery storage alongside all our new solar and wind projects.