Consultation opens on major battery energy storage scheme in Flintshire
A major green energy project could soon take shape on land near Northop as energy firm NatPower launches a formal consultation on a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The Tyn Y Coed BESS would cover around 21 acres of a wider 48.6-acre site located just off the A55, north-east of Northop and close to Ty’n Y Coed Farm.
The facility would have the capacity to store 500 megawatts of electricity—enough to power around one million homes for a day.
If approved, the project would support the National Grid by storing renewable energy when supply exceeds demand and releasing it when it’s most needed.
The proposal is part of wider UK and Welsh Government efforts to reach net-zero carbon targets by 2050 and decarbonise energy networks by 2035.
NatPower, the developer behind the scheme, says the site was chosen after a detailed search for locations with access to grid infrastructure and minimal environmental and heritage impact.
The company is now holding a statutory pre-application consultation, with residents invited to comment until midnight on Friday 25 April 2025.
The facility would consist of hundreds of battery containers, transformers, switchgear units, control rooms and fencing.
A new main access road would be created from the A5119, with a second emergency access point proposed via Starkey Lane.
The project would include landscaping measures, biodiversity net gains, and screening to limit visual and noise impact.
Construction could begin as early as 2028, with completion expected in 2030.
Once operational, the site would be managed remotely, with only occasional maintenance traffic.
While most of the site falls outside designated flood zones, areas near Northop Brook have been excluded from development due to potential flood risk.
An extensive suite of assessments, including noise, ecology, heritage and transport impact, has been submitted as part of the draft plans.
The company has also identified the site as not being within any air quality management area and has planned mitigation to avoid disruption to local biodiversity and public rights of way.
NatPower UK says it aims to provide 20% of the UK’s required battery storage by 2040. In a statement, the firm said:
“Battery storage plays a vital role in helping the UK meet its net-zero goals. It allows us to store excess renewable energy and release it when demand is high, ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable electricity supply — even when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining.”
Residents can view the full draft planning documents online and provide feedback via phone, email, post or an online questionnaire.
- Consultation details can be found here: https://tynycoedbatterystorage.natpower.uk/
