New energy storage system proposed for Vale of Glamorgan grass verge

A new energy storage system that is “uniquely suited” to the area could be coming to a town in the Vale of Glamorgan if plans are approved
A proposal for a new energy storage system (or “battery box”) is being considered by Vale of Glamorgan Council at Verge at Caerau Lane, by Port Lane, Wenvoe.
The application, lodged by AMP Clean Energy, reads: “By charging the Battery Box during periods of high renewable generation you charge up with low carbon energy.”
It continues: “When demand is high and renewable power is not otherwise available, rather than turn on a fossil fuel power plant, energy storage systems can export the stored energy. This reduces the amount of carbon used on our energy system.”
A battery box imports electricity from the local network when demand is low or when there are high levels of renewable energy available.
It then exports that electricity back to the grid when required during periods of high demand, this improves the flexibility of the grid.
Planning documents read: “For the avoidance of any doubt, each Battery Box connects directly to the local electricity network, from which it can import or export electricity. Battery Boxes do not directly connect to existing wind or solar farms.”
Urban, suburban and industrial areas consume large amounts of energy.
According to the applicant, large scale storage projects, solar farms and wind turbines are not suitable for these areas.
In contrast, battery boxes have a smaller footprint and connect into local low voltage networks, this makes them “uniquely suited to these areas”.
The applicant expects the average battery box to save 160 tonnes of carbon each year and 4,800 tonnes over its lifetime.
This includes “the carbon impact of constructing, shipping, installing, operating [and] decommissioning the site and recycling the equipment”.
The site is described as a “vacant grass verge situated within the adopted highway, situated next to existing electrical infrastructure along Caerau Lane” in planning documents.
The site was “carefully selected” for its “proximity to the local grid”, “unused grassland available”, “suitable flat land” and being “close to local electricity demand”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​