RWE to invest £200m in battery energy storage as part of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre
As intermittent renewable energy continues to expand, grid stability is critical.
RWE has announced plans to construct a battery energy storage facility in Wales with a capacity of 700 MWh, made of 212 lithium-ion battery containers.
Pembroke Power Station
When complete, the battery could discharge up to 350 MW of electricity continuously into the grid for a period of two hours.
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation, commented: "In a dynamic energy world with more and more renewable energy, there is an increasing need for mature technologies that can instantly support the electricity grid.
“Battery storage systems are ideal for this because they are fast, efficient and competitive. Our Pembroke Battery is our UK flagship storage project and will make an important contribution to stabilising the UK energy market by efficiently storing surplus energy and feeding it into the national grid in a targeted manner when required."
Nikolaus Valerius
The battery project in South Wales would occupy a 5.1 hectare site situated to the south of Pembroke Power Station, representing an investment of £200m.
RWE plans for the battery to connect to the grid through underground cables at the neighbouring National Grid substation.
Once operational, the company says that the facility would be capable of storing sufficient electricity to meet the average daily domestic electricity requirements of more than 72,000 typical UK homes.
This development will form part of RWE's wider ambitions for the Pembroke Net Zero Centre.
CGI: RWE's battery project will be located on a 5.1-hectare area to the south of Pembroke Power Station.
Eluned Morgan, First Minister for Wales, added: "This significant investment by RWE demonstrates Wales' central role in the UK's transition to clean and renewable electricity.
“The Pembroke Battery Storage facility will support our ambitions for a cleaner, more secure energy future while at the same time creating opportunities for good jobs and local communities across South Wales.
“Innovative projects like this showcase how Wales is leading the way in the development of renewable energy technology. This is helping to build a greener economy for generations to come."
The Pembroke site has a long history of power generation. The Pembroke Refinery began operations in 1964, with the Pembroke A Power Station following in 1968. After nearly three decades of generating power from oil, Pembroke A ceased operations in 1997. Pembroke B, a combined cycle gas turbine power station, began operations in 2012.