Plan to build UK's largest battery storage facility

Grenergy, a renewable energy firm, wants to build a 450 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system near Corsham, Wiltshire, that would store energy produced by solar farms and wind turbines to support the grid when needed.

The company said the facility, which it plans to build at Neston Park Estate, could supply enough energy to power one million homes, five times the number of homes in Wiltshire, for an hour.

If planning permission is granted by Wiltshire Council, Grenergy said it hoped to start work on the facility next year and have it operational by the end of 2027.

If given the go-ahead, it would become the largest facility of its kind, topping the Lakeside Energy Park in Drax, North Yorkshire, which has a capacity of 100MW, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The facility would be half a mile from the village of Neston and residents have raised concerns about the visual impact of the development, the noise caused by cooling fans, and the risk of fire.

One resident said it would have an impact locally and in surrounding villages, adding that it "is a cause of concern for us all".

'Reduce risk'

The facility would include 108 shipping container-sized batteries along with an electricity substation, security fencing, lighting and CCTV towers.

Grenergy said it would carry out "rigorous health and safety assessments".

"The design of the system at Brockleaze has been optimised according to guidance to reduce any potential risk," it added.

Comments on the application can be made to Wiltshire Council before 28 August.

New 200-acre solar farm 'could power 14,500 homes'

A solar farm with the capacity to power more than 14,500 homes could be built on rural land.

Clean energy company Belltown Power says it has earmarked the Oldbridge site near Congresbury in North Somerset for the project.

Ahead of the plans being formally submitted the company is holding an event for the public to see them on 19 March from 14:30 GMT at the Old School Rooms in Congresbury.

Antoine Vandenborre, from Belltown Power, said: "If approved, this solar farm will provide much-needed renewable energy, helping to decarbonise the electricity network and support North Somerset Council in meeting its net zero carbon emissions targets."

A website set up by Belltown to promote the project says the 200-acre site will retain some farming use, for example allowing sheep to graze, once it is up and running.

It added the site will have a planned lifespan of 40 years, after which it will return to its original use.

A planning application for the new solar farm is expected to be submitted to North Somerset Council by early summer.

'Major' solar farm could be built despite concerns

A major new solar farm could be built in countryside to the west of Bath.

Developers say the 28.2 hectare (70 acre) site near the village of Burnett could generate enough electricity to power 5,763 homes in the district each year.

A statement submitted with the application to Bath and North East Somerset Council said it was "vitally important" for local energy security to produce renewable electricity.

However, six local residents have objected to the plans, saying the land should be left for growing crops.

S. Freedman said: “I object to this application. What is more important, food to feed people or energy for lighting or heating? To me it is food.

"Instead of placing solar panels in fields every new house built should have solar panels on the roof and existing houses should follow suit.”

David Eachus added: “Stop destroying our wildlife and farmland. This whole area is being systematically polluted with planning applications and it’s gone too far.”

But the applicants Conrad Energy (Developments) II Ltd said the site, off Middle Piece Lane, would continue to be used for agriculture.

Their statement said: “It is envisaged that the fields under the panels will remain in agricultural use and used for sheep grazing during the site’s operational lifetime.”

The solar farm would be decommissioned after 40 years and the site restored to its former state, the developer added.