Today (2nd April 2025) NatPower will launch proposals for a new 800 MW Battery Energy Storage Facility located 2km northwest of the village Elwick, on the border of Hartlepool and Durham Council areas.
NatPower are now inviting members of the public to learn more about their plans for Clay Pool Energy Storage and will shortly be sending out invitations to households and businesses in the vicinity of the site to inform them of the proposals and to invite feedback and questions on the plans.
Due to recent changes in timescales imposed by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the public consultation process for Clay Pool Energy Storage will be held online.
NatPower are creating a dedicated webpage where the plans can be viewed, and questions can be asked to the project team via a feedback form. They have also created a dedicated phone line (020 4599 7979) for those who are unable to access the internet.
The Clay Pool Energy Storage consultation website is now live and will run until Wednesday 16th April 2025. It can be accessed at www.natpower.uk/project/claypool-energy/
The proposal
The proposed Clay Pool Energy Storage site will include an areas of battery infrastructure and one substation, located northwest of Elwick. NatPower have chosen this location because it is close to an existing National Grid connection point.
It will use battery storage technology to store electricity for use during times of peak demand. This will ensure grid resilience as renewable generation becomes a more prominent part of the UK’s energy mix.
About NatPower
NatPower is a renewable energy developer with over 25 years’ experience working nationally and internationally to support the renewable energy transition. Their experienced teams work together with the project communities to bring the benefits of the clean energy transition to the places they operate.
About Battery Storage
Battery storage plays a critical role in supporting the transition to net zero, as renewables don’t generate electricity consistently. It is an important part of making sure our country has clean, secure and affordable electricity as we begin to generate more electricity from intermittent sources such as wind and solar. These sources don’t generate electricity consistently, but batteries allow us to store electricity and release it at times when it is most needed. That means homes and businesses can continue to be powered – even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind isn’t blowing whilst supporting the overall ambitions of decarbonising our electricity supply.
Working with the community
NatPower’s experienced teams work together with our project communities to bring the benefits of the clean energy transition to the places we operate.
They are committed to supporting our communities to become the most sustainable in the UK. NatPower do this through a Community Energy Transition Foundation, which invests in the communities where they work. NatPower want to make sure what we do makes a genuinely positive impact – be that through funding local sustainability projects or supporting the creation of new jobs. That’s why they are keen to hear from you about what your community needs to become more sustainable and how they could help.
