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MAES BACH
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

In association with Firstway Energy, Net Zero Twenty Five has plans to develop a utility scale energy storage system at Maes Bach, Maesmawr Road, Pontypridd, CF38 1SL.​

 

Energy storage systems provide reliable and clean energy for households, businesses and communities - enabling  the UK transition to net zero, and providing vital energy security. 

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

  • Energy storage systems effectively store power from the grid at times of excess supply and feed that power back to the grid at times of high demand.

  • They provide a flexible back up power source to the National Grid energy infrastructure, playing a key role in the phasing out of fossil fuels to electric turbines and facilitating the uptake of renewable energy.

  • Energy storage provides a vitally important role in the fight against climate change and the UK’s energy security and will assist in helping the country become more self-sufficient.

  • Renewable Energy such as solar and wind farms produce intermittent energy ie. when energy is produced on warm and windy days and there is limited demand for this energy, it is often lost, wasted and not used. Energy storage provides a solution to this lost energy and will capture and store this clean energy helping to balance energy generation against energy demand.    

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

There is a significant and quantifiable need for the deployment of renewable energy generation and battery storage in the UK, which is being driven by UK Government legislation and policy.

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In 2019, the Government raised the UK’s commitment in tackling climate change by legislating a net-zero target by 2050.

To achieve this target, the UK Government committed to decarbonising the electricity system by 2035, i.e. an electricity system that is powered solely by nuclear, low carbon and renewable energy. Decarbonising the power sector is integral to achieving this target and requires major investment in proven low carbon and renewable and energy storage technologies.

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In addition to the net zero targets and commitments above, the Government has issued a plan to make Great Britain energy independent. To achieve this, the Government has set a target to double Britain’s electricity generation by 2030.

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To transition to a net-zero electricity system and to achieve energy security, utility-scale energy storage systems will be required to store energy and balance electricity supply to the grid to meet existing and future energy needs.

AERIAL OF SITE

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PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

The proposed energy storage system is located at Maes Bach, Maesmawr Road, Pontypridd, CF38 1SL.

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The site has been carefully chosen and designed following an extensive assessment of potential sites within a suitable proximity to National Grid Upper Boat Substation, and will be connected to the substation via underground cables.

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The total site size, including cable route, comprises approximately 10.2 hectares of land (with the fenced off ESS compound itself occupying approximately 0.8 hectares) and it is anticipated that the energy storage system will have a total import/export capacity of 70 megawatts, which is enough to power 226,657 homes.

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The proposed development would have an operational lifespan of approximately 40 years, before the site is restored back to its former state (i.e. agricultural use).

SCHEME BENEFITS

  • Addressing the negative impacts of climate change;

  • Provision of more renewable energy;

  • Farm Diversification;

  • More green energy supply reducing the cost of energy to households – large numbers of people in the UK;

  • Better air quality through lower emissions;

  • Energy security and being self sufficient as a nation;

  • 10%+ Biodiversity Net Gain;

  • Reducing flood risk through additional tree planting;

  • Accepted and commercially viable connection offer;

  • Temporary scheme with full reinstatement and decommissioning to existing use in 40 years time.

INDICATIVE LAYOUT

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EXAMPLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

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MAES BACH
IN NUMBERS

70MW

ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY

10.2HA

APPROXIMATE SITE SIZE

226,657

HOMES POWERED 

10%+

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

New vegetation planting: new hedgerows and species rich grassland will be planted to supplement the existing vegetation, and to screen the development from the surrounding area.

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Biodiversity Net Gain: the proposed development will deliver a biodiversity net gain, in excess of planning policy requirements, through the planting of hedgerows and native vegetation which will create new habitats to the benefit of local wildlife. The percentage increase in biodiversity net gain will be confirmed as part of the planning application.

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Reducing carbon emissions: energy storage systems are crucial to effectively integrating renewable energy generation in to the grid, which reduces reliance on dirty energy sources and leads to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

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Increasing energy efficiency: energy storage systems facilitate the storage of renewable energy when there is excess supply, and feeds the energy back into the grid when there is excess demand. This helps balance the supply of electricity to the grid - improving energy management, reducing the wastage of electricity and conserving natural resource.

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PROJECT TIMELINE

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ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM UNITS

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CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION

The construction of energy storage systems is a relatively straight forward process. The energy storage units do not need deep foundations - they sit on thin concrete plinths and are connected to the local substation, which is approximately 1.6km to the north of the site, via an underground cable.​

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All construction and operational vehicles will access the site via an existing access point from Maesmawr Road.

 

Traffic associated with the Proposed Development will be largely limited to the temporary construction phase, during which management measures will be put in place through a Construction Traffic Management Plan.

 

Traffic during operation will be limited to general maintenance, with maintenance teams needing to access the site typically twice a month.

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The construction period of the proposed development is 12 months, and the indicative grid connection date is March 2028.

PLANNING APPLICATION

The Planning Application submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will include the following documents:

  • Completed application form.

  • Planning, Design and Access Statement.

  • Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

  • Construction Traffic Management Plan.

  • Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy.

  • Heritage Desk-Based Assessment.

  • Noise Assessment.

  • Arboricultural Impact Assessment.

  • Ecological Assessment.

  • Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment.

  • Outline Battery Safety Management Plan.

  • Suite of Drawings, including existing site plans, proposed site plans, landscaping plan and plans and elevations of the infrastructure associated with the proposed development.

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