Climate

‘Rushed’ battery storage developments risk ‘devastating’ consequences

Published

10 months ago

June 6, 2025

THE RAPID and largely unregulated proliferation of battery storage developments is becoming an urgent safety issue in many parts of Wales, a Senedd Member warned.

Plaid Cymru’s Llŷr Gruffydd said he is not opposed to battery energy storage systems (BESS), recognising it as “vital” infrastructure in the “national mission” to reach net zero.

But the Plaid Cymru politician warned of risks to people’s safety “in a rush to deliver developments without the proper scrutiny they deserve”.

He told the Senedd: “For BESS to truly serve Wales’s net-zero goals, development must be guided by strong planning policy, strong safety standards and, of course, strong and meaningful community engagement.

“Projects should be well sited, they should be transparent and designed with public trust in mind. In a nutshell: BESS technology isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity for a net-zero Wales.”

Leading a debate on June 4, Mr Gruffydd said: “Clean energy and smart infrastructure must be encouraged but a careful balance needs to be struck. Too often, communities are an afterthought in this conversation – this energy transition needs to put people first.”

He warned most of the proposed projects are not happening in remote industrial parks. “They’re being planned within metres of homes, schools and places of work,” he said.

“And the concerns raised by local residents aren’t nimbyism [not in my back yard] – they’re real, evidence-based fears, particularly around thermal runaway fires, which have caused serious incidents in countries around the world.”

Mr Gruffydd, who chairs the Senedd climate committee, raised the example of a fire at Moss Landing, one of the world’s largest BESS facilities in California, in January.

He told Senedd Members: “The fire destroyed approximately 80% of the batteries… and led to the evacuation of around 1,500 residents due to concerns over toxic smoke emissions.”

He explained that thermal runaway can cause large, long-lasting fires which, in some cases around the world, have taken millions of litres of water to extinguish.

Mr Gruffydd said some of the technology used at Moss Landing is identical to what is proposed in many of the 80-plus BESS developments under consideration in Wales.

He cautioned that in places like Northop and Gwyddelwern in his north Wales region, communities face plans for installations only 35 to 120 metres from some homes.

The politician emphasised: “We can’t build public confidence in this technology unless we put transparency and safety at the heart of how it’s planned and how it’s delivered.

“The urgency of decarbonisation is real – we all feel it – but we mustn’t let that urgency override the need for caution and care.”

Mr Gruffydd said the Ynni Celyn scheme in Gwyddelwern would house millions of batteries across nearly 1,000 shipping containers on a 75-acre greenfield site near the small village.

He warned: “A fire at that site would pose a serious risk to the River Dee catchment which, of course, provides drinking water for over one million people and the environmental consequences there could be quite devastating.

“Now, we can’t ask residents to simply hope that nothing goes wrong. That isn’t good enough, is it? Developers and government must guarantee safety – no exceptions.”

Mr Gruffydd urged Welsh ministers to move away from a “hub-and-spoke” model to a “spider’s web” approach to spread infrastructure more evenly and fairly across Wales.

He called for a temporary halt on large-scale BESS projects given the risks, oversight gaps and deep community concern. “A moratorium gives us time to do things right,” he said.

Responding for the Welsh Government, Rebecca Evans told the Senedd energy storage has an important part to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Wales’ economy secretary said decisions on appropriate locations for battery developments are made through local planning processes under national ‘Planning Policy Wales’ guidance.

She said: “Planning applications are subject to consultation with key stakeholders, and the fire and rescue authorities are consulted on major development proposals.

“The planning system is able to prevent and mitigate potential harm resulting from the development proposals by imposing conditions on planning permissions.”

Ms Evans, who is responsible for energy and planning as well as the economy, would not comment on specific proposals to avoid prejudicing appeals which could land on her desk.

Climate

New deal aims to unlock Wales’ renewable energy potential

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Sector partnership targets 100% renewable electricity by 2035

A NEW deal has been launched to help Wales meet its renewable energy targets while ensuring greater benefits for local communities.

The Renewable Energy Sector Deal will see the Welsh Government and industry work in strategic partnership to unlock the full economic potential of Wales’ renewable energy future.

The announcement coincides with the publication of the latest Energy Generation and Energy Use in Wales report, which shows renewable electricity generation in 2024 was equivalent to 54% of Wales’ electricity consumption.

The Welsh Government has set a target for renewable electricity to meet 70% of demand by 2030 and 100% by 2035. It also aims to deliver at least 1.5 gigawatts of locally owned renewable energy capacity by 2035.

The Sector Deal is intended to accelerate deployment across onshore and offshore wind, solar, marine and hydro projects. It will also focus on strengthening supply chains, developing skills, and ensuring communities across Wales benefit directly from renewable energy developments.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, is launching the deal during a visit to the Morlais tidal energy project on Anglesey.

The Morlais scheme, owned and managed by social enterprise Menter Môn, is set to become the largest consented tidal energy project in Europe. The Welsh Government holds an £8 million equity stake in the project.

Rebecca Evans said: “Our ambition is to become a world leader in renewable energy, creating jobs and green growth to make families in Wales more prosperous and help with the cost of living.

“The current conflict in the Middle East has further highlighted the importance of energy independence. Our Renewable Energy Sector Deal will provide a strong foundation for future delivery, benefiting our economy, environment and energy security.

“The Morlais project shows how sustained partnership can unlock Wales’ natural energy resources and turn them into lasting economic opportunities for local communities and businesses.

“The latest energy report shows we are making progress towards our targets. Combined with the record 20 major renewable projects, totalling 1,400MW, backed in the most recent UK Government Contracts for Difference auction, it is clear we are building a more resilient, renewable-powered future.”

Dafydd Gruffydd, Managing Director of Menter Môn, added: “The Renewable Energy Sector Deal is an important step in accelerating growth in Wales and across the UK.

“It recognises the role marine energy schemes like Morlais can play in strengthening energy security, creating high-quality jobs and delivering long-term economic benefits for communities such as Anglesey.”

The Sector Deal was co-produced by a task and finish group made up of developers and community organisations.

Responding to the Welsh Government’s Renewable Energy Sector Deal, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “This so-called ‘sector deal’ raises more questions than it answers.

“There is no clear plan for how we build the workforce needed, with no detail on training, skills or apprenticeships to deliver the green jobs Wales needs.

“Ministers also promise benefits for communities, but without minimum standards or enforcement, there is no guarantee local people will see the rewards.

“Most concerning is the lack of focus on energy bills. Families are struggling, yet there is no clear explanation of how this will bring down costs. Renewable energy should mean cheaper bills, but as long as electricity prices are tied to gas, households won’t feel the benefit, something Labour in Westminster has failed to fix.”

Climate

Research vessel begins mission to study seabed carbon in Irish Sea

Published

4 days ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Bangor University scientists join £2.1m project investigating the impact of bottom trawling on carbon stored beneath the seabed

A STATE OF THE ART research vessel has set sail from Liverpool to investigate how bottom trawling may affect carbon stored in the seabed of the Irish Sea.

The scientific expedition is part of a £2.1 million research project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and led by Professor Jan Geert Hiddink of Bangor University.

A team of eighteen scientists has embarked on the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels, for a three-and-a-half-week voyage studying the impact of fishing activity on carbon held in seabed sediments.

Before the ship departed, a number of local dignitaries were invited aboard for a tour of the vessel, including Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and National Oceanography Centre Operations Director Natalie Campbell.

Professor Jan Geert Hiddink, from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said bottom-trawl fishing is both vital to global food supply and a major disturbance to seabed environments.

“Bottom-trawl fishing provides around a quarter of global seafood but is also the most extensive physical disturbance caused by human activities to stocks of carbon locked in seabed sediments,” he said.

“This is important because recent evidence suggests that disturbing the seabed could lead to the release of significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the seabed into the atmosphere.

“There are still major uncertainties about how this disturbance affects carbon stored beneath the seabed. As a result, the impact of these disturbances is largely unquantified and currently unregulated.

“The aim of this project is to gain a much clearer understanding of what is happening so that scientists, policymakers and regulators can make informed decisions in the future.”

Seven research organisations are collaborating on the project: Bangor University, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Heriot-Watt University, the University of Leeds, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the University of St Andrews, and Imperial College London.

Caption: Scientists prepare to begin their research aboard the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels.

Climate

Green hydrogen plant approved for Milford Haven Freeport site

Published

1 week ago

March 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Major investment expected to boost low-carbon industry and create skilled jobs in West Wales

A MAJOR green hydrogen project planned for the Milford Haven Freeport tax site has taken a significant step forward after developers approved the final investment decision.

Energy company MorGen Energy has confirmed it will proceed with the West Wales Hydrogen project, one of the first schemes backed through the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) to reach this stage.

The facility will be built within the Milford Haven Tax Site, part of the Celtic Freeport zone covering Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the plant scheduled to become operational in early 2028.

Once completed, the site is expected to produce around 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen each year, meeting the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

The hydrogen produced will support a range of industries, including port operations, manufacturing and industrial heating, as well as use as a chemical feedstock.

Supporters say the development will help reduce carbon emissions while strengthening Milford Haven’s role in the UK’s emerging hydrogen economy.

The project is also expected to create skilled jobs and provide work for local contractors during the construction phase.

Further expansion may be possible in future phases as demand for hydrogen grows, potentially helping establish Milford Haven as a major hub for low-carbon energy production serving South Wales and beyond.

Luciana Ciubotariu, Chief Executive of Celtic Freeport, said the decision marked another milestone for the region.

She said: “MorGen Energy’s decision is another major step forward for the hydrogen economy in South West Wales.

“Projects like this within the Milford Haven Tax Site show how the Celtic Freeport is accelerating decarbonisation while creating high-value jobs.”

The UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round scheme provides revenue support to help scale up the country’s low-carbon hydrogen sector and bring early projects to market.