Developer takes investment decision after securing consent and capacity route
RWE has taken a final investment decision on its 350MW Pembroke battery storage project in South Wales.
RWE said the circa £200 million development will form part of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre and was announced by the First Minister for Wales at the Wales Investment Summit.
The company said the project secured planning consent in January and won capacity in the latest UK Capacity Market auction, with construction due to start in the first half of 2026 and commissioning in the second half of 2028 subject to an updated grid connection.
RWE said the two-hour system will be located on a 5.1-hectare site south of Pembroke Power Station and will use 212 lithium-ion battery containers to deliver 700MWh of storage.
The company said the project will also include biodiversity measures such as meadow planting, native woodland and scrub planting, and a new pond to support local wildlife.
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO RWE Generation SE (pictured), said: “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.”
First Minister for Wales Eluned Morgan said: “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.”
Tom Glover, RWE UK country chair, said: “Wales has significant potential to lead the UK’s clean energy transition across wind, solar, storage, hydro, and emerging technologies. Despite the challenges facing energy projects everywhere, we see a government determined to unlock this opportunity for the benefit of communities across Walessomething we strongly support.”
