A new battery storage site has been approved in Surrey

A new battery storage site has been approved in Surrey to help provide electricity when there is high demand. The Runnymede planning committee agreed to the plans for a field near the River Wey in Addlestone. This land is part of the green belt, which means special reasons had to be shown to approve the project.

The site will be used to store energy and send it to the National Grid when needed. It can help during times when renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, are not producing enough power. The battery site may operate for up to 30 years.

Runnymede council said the project fits with the council’s goals to address climate change. The site will connect to the local electricity network and store extra energy when supply is high, releasing it when demand rises.

A similar project in Caterham, also on green belt land, was approved earlier in September. Some local parish councils had concerns about the future use of the land, but the Tandridge council said the applicant showed important reasons for the development.

The Caterham site, run by Root-Power, could be working by 2025, providing another source of energy during peak times.