Cherwell District Council has given the green light to a 52 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Yarnton, United Kingdom. Once operational, the system will store and release energy generated from renewable sources as required by the grid, helping to maintain grid stability.

According to the company, the proposed project was carefully designed following engagement with both legal and local stakeholders and will be built on approximately 1.5 hectares of land east of the A44.

The BESS application was approved by members of the Cherwell District Council Planning Committee on 20 March 2025, and the Council’s decision notice was issued on 13 June, following the completion of ecological studies. Renewable Connections, one of the UK’s leading developers of solar and battery storage projects, submitted the application in November 2024. This approval marks the 27th project Renewable Connections has received consent for since 2021.

Michael Hughes, CEO of Renewable Connections, stated: “We welcome Cherwell District Council’s decision to approve the Yarnton Battery Energy Storage System. This project will help address the climate emergency in Oxfordshire by using smart technology to determine when to store or release energy to the grid and meet peak demand. It enables the use of renewable power even when generation conditions are not ideal, contributing to a more stable and reliable energy network and supporting the UK’s journey toward a net-zero future.”

The Yarnton BESS site in Oxfordshire is bounded by Woodstock Road to the south, Green Lane to the north and west, and a railway line to the east.

The UK Government estimates that deploying battery energy storage systems could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion in operational costs by 2050*, helping to reduce individual energy bills.