Firstway Energy secures two more UK battery storage project planning approvals, 11 in past 12 months

Renewable energy developer Firstway Energy has secured planning approvals for two new grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in late July 2025. 

The new BESS projects will have a combined capacity of 200 MW and a two-hour duration. These schemes represent the 10th and 11th BESS planning consents within the past 12 months for Firstway Energy, bringing the total consented pipeline of the company to more than 1,070 MW in power storage.  

The newly approved projects are as follows:

• 100 MW / 200 MWh at Gammaton Barton, Bideford (Torridge District Council), in south west England.
• 100 MW / 200 MWh at Murton Way, York (City of York Council), in north east England.

Despite the rapid collection of approvals by Firstway, it was not all smooth sailing for the Murton Way BESS project. It was initially refused by the City of York Council in December 2024, citing Green Belt concerns. Following an appeal by a Planning Inspector, the application was approved in mid-July with the Inspector noting that the public benefits would heavily outweigh the acknowledged Green Belt harm.

Last month, Firstway Energy announced that it had received planning consent for three new BESS projects: 100 MW at Wilsden, Bradford (City of Bradford Council), 100 MW at Old Hutton, Kendal (Westmorland and Furness Council), and 70 MW at Boxgrove, Chichester (Chichester District Council).

Firstway Energy expressed that it continues to work with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to speed up grid connection timelines. Both projects are anticipated to be online ahead of 2029.