RWE has announced the construction of its Pembroke Battery project, a key facility in Wales’ clean energy transition. The announcement was made by First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan, at the Wales Investment Summit, highlighting the Welsh Government’s commitment to attracting infrastructure investment that supports renewable energy.

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

The facility will be located on a 5.1-hectare site south of RWE’s Pembroke Power Station and will consist of 212 lithium-ion battery containers. Once operational, the battery could discharge up to 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity continuously for two hours, equivalent to 700 megawatt-hours (MWh) of stored energy—enough to keep the lights on for almost 300,000 typical UK homes during that period.

Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE, said: “In a dynamic energy world with increasing renewable capacity, there is a growing need for mature technologies that can instantly support the electricity grid. Battery storage systems are ideal because they are fast, efficient, and competitive. Our Pembroke Battery is our UK flagship storage project and will play an important role in stabilising the UK energy market by storing surplus energy and feeding it into the national grid when required.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan added: “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 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 Wales—something we strongly support.”

Protecting biodiversity

The project will include biodiversity measures around the operational site, such as meadow planting, native woodland and scrub planting, and the development of a large new pond to support local wildlife.

As the UK moves towards a clean power system, battery storage will play a vital role in maintaining security of supply and supporting the growth of renewables. Batteries also help enhance grid stability, smoothing out variability in renewable generation by responding quickly to changes in demand or supply.

RWE is the number one renewable energy generator in Wales, currently involved in over 3 GW of capacity across 12 sites, of which around 1 GW is renewable. Its renewable portfolio already generates around a quarter of Wales’ renewable energy. The company directly employs around 300 people in offices and onsite at power stations in Baglan and Dolgarrog. In addition, RWE-operated wind farms have invested over £21 million in local communities through community benefit funds.