Surrey Approves Battery Storage System for National Grid Support

A battery energy storage facility has been approved in Surrey, specifically in a green belt area near the River Wey in Addlestone. The Runnymede planning committee granted approval on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for 'very special circumstances' to justify development in such protected land. The applicant aims to create a system that will store energy during periods of high supply and release it during peak demand, thereby supporting the National Grid. This project is part of a broader initiative to enhance renewable energy exports over the next 30 years. The council noted that the development aligns with its climate change objectives, which played a significant role in the decision-making process. Earlier in September, a similar project was approved in the Surrey Hills, despite objections from local parish councils concerned about the implications for green belt land. The managing director of Root-Power, the company behind the Caterham site, expressed optimism about the project's potential to be operational by 2025. These developments reflect a growing trend towards utilizing battery storage systems to manage energy supply and demand effectively, particularly as reliance on renewable energy sources increases.