Giant batteries are a huge opportunity for Wales but they must not be built close to homes

North Wales Live

6 days ago

The transition to greener energy is already underway and a key part of that transition will be battery storage of surplus electricity - a surplus we already have in abundance in Wales.
Electricity generation by green means is already cheaper and, although Wales is the fifth largest exporter of electricity in the world (let that fact sink in for a moment), Welsh communities do not benefit as much as we would wish from that production.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are increasingly becoming an issue across our communities – and it's a rapid and largely unregulated rise. It's recognised as a vital tool to reach net zero but the rush to deliver these large-scale developments without proper scrutiny cannot go unchallenged.
Let's first acknowledge their importance - BESS are a cornerstone of Wales's strategy to achieve net zero emissions and transition to a clean energy future. As the country accelerates the shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources, the importance of effective energy storage cannot be overstated.
Renewables are variable — the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. BESS technology addresses this by storing excess electricity generated and releasing it when demand is high or when generation dips.
This stabilises the grid, ensuring a constant and reliable energy supply regardless of fluctuations in generation. For Wales, BESS offers a practical solution to balance supply and demand and make the most of our clean energy assets.
Furthermore, investing in BESS creates economic opportunities for Wales. It can stimulate job creation in green technology, engineering and innovation, while positioning the country as a leader in sustainable infrastructure.
Industries dependent on heavy energy demand, such as steel, can be guaranteed reliable and cheap electricity supplies.
So BESS technology is not a luxury – it's a necessity for a net-zero Wales. Clean energy and smart infrastructure must be encouraged - but a careful balance needs to be struck.
Development must be guided by strong planning policy, safety standards and community engagement. The projects being proposed aren't happening on remote industrial parks. They're being planned within metres of homes, schools, and places of work.
And the concerns raised by local residents are real - particularly around thermal runaway fires, which have caused serious incidents around the world.
One such incident was at Moss Landing in California in January 2025. The fire destroyed approximately 80% of the batteries in the affected building and led to the evacuation of around 1,500 residents due to concerns over toxic smoke emissions.
The incident raised environmental concerns, as elevated levels of heavy metals such as manganese, cobalt and nickel were detected. These contaminants pose potential risks to both the environment and public health.
Here in Wales, the proposed Ynni Celyn scheme by developers NatPower in Gwyddelwern, Denbighshire is set to be one of the largest BESS sites in Europe.
The development would house millions of batteries across nearly 1,000 shipping containers on a 75-acre greenfield site close to this small village. Understandably, the scale and proximity of the project to homes has sparked serious concern among local residents.
A community campaign group has voiced strong objections - not only about the size and location of the facility, but also regarding the nature of the developers' engagement with the community.
The community has also expressed scepticism toward the developer's reassurances on safety. Similar concerns are also being expressed about other large-scale BESS proposals in Northop, Rhostyllen and other communities across the country.
The current planning system has become a free-for-all. In a new gold rush, developers are surging forward with applications that often fall far short of the safety or location assurances that communities deserve. I'm therefore calling on the Government to take back control of this space — with a strong, national framework that:
Balances the interests of industry with the rights of local people.
Includes clear, science-based criteria for where and how BESS can be sited.
And restores public trust in the integrity of the planning system.
Given the current risks, gaps in oversight and community concern, the Government must impose a moratorium on large-scale BESS projects that exceed 250MWh in capacity and are located within a kilometre of homes.
This is not a call to stop clean energy, but a call to deliver it responsibly. The 250MWh threshold allows smaller, lower-risk projects to proceed and the 1km buffer mirrors new safety regulations in California, introduced after the Moss Landing incident. A moratorium gives us time to do things right.
Alongside the moratorium, I'm urging the Welsh Government to launch a full, independent risk assessment into the safety and environmental impacts of large-scale BESS. The results of that assessment should shape new national planning policy.
Wales must not repeat the mistakes of the past - where poorly regulated development was justified in the name of progress. Clean energy must be safe energy and climate action must be community-driven.
Let's work together to build a net-zero Wales that is safe, sustainable, and worthy of the trust of our people.