A £200m BATTERY storage development will play an important role in the operation of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre decarbonisation hub in South Wales.

The RWE Pembroke Battery project received planning consent in January this year and was also successful in the UK’s latest Capacity Market auction, securing a critical route to market. Construction will start in the first half of 2026, with commissioning and operations expected in the second half 2028, subject to receiving an updated and timely grid connection.

South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz said:

“This £200 million investment by RWE in a major battery storage facility at Pembroke is exactly the kind of bold commitment that reinforces Pembrokeshire’s role as a true powerhouse of energy production. It strengthens the region’s capacity to support the UK’s energy security and demonstrates the confidence that major global companies continue to place in our skilled workforce and strategic location.”

The project construction was announced by the First Minister at the Wales Investment Summit, underlining the Welsh Government's commitment to attracting major infrastructure investment that will support the nation’s clean energy transition.

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.

“Innovative projects like this showcase how Wales is leading the way in the development of renewable energy technology. This is helping to build a greener economy for generations to come."

The storage system would be located on a 5.1-hectare area to the south of RWE’s Pembroke Power Station and comprises of 212 lithium-ion battery containers. Once constructed and fully operational, the battery could continually discharge up to 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity directly into the grid for two hours. That’s equal to 700 megawatt-hours (MWh) of stored energy, or equal to keeping the lights on for two hours for almost 300,000 typical UK homes.

Battery energy storage technology helps to enhance grid stability, smoothing out the variability of renewable energy sources by providing a quick response to sudden changes in demand or generation. Nikolaus Valerius, CEO RWE Generation SE said: “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.”

To operate the plant in harmony with the local ecosystem, part of the Pembroke Battery project will involve implementing biodiversity measures in the areas surrounding the operational power station site including meadow planting, native woodland and scrub planting, and developing a new large pond to support local wildlife.

Mr Kurtz added: “I am immensely proud of the industry that exists on the Haven waterway and have long championed its importance. Announcements such as this signal wider confidence that west really is best when it comes to Pembrokeshire and energy production.”