Pembrokeshire planners have approved two applications for off-peak electricity storage units.

Plans to install Battery Boxes on a verge at the Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembrokeshire Science and Technology Park, Pembroke Dock and land to the south of Withybush Road, Withybush Industrial Estate, Haverfordwest has been approved.

The applicant, AMP Clean Energy has submitted several additional micro energy storage projects - at St Daniel’s Hill and St Daniel’s Drive, Pembroke, land between Steynton Road and Sheffield Drive and Castle Terrace and Pill Road, Milford Haven, and on a verge at Fishguard Leisure Centre Car Park.

Each application has a supporting statement that says: “AMP Clean Energy is developing Battery Boxes across the UK to provide a low carbon, flexible and de-centralised store of electricity that benefits local communities, businesses, and homes.”

The statement adds: “Renewable power generation does not always match when the demand for electricity is highest. To overcome this, we need a more flexible energy system that allows us to shift renewable energy to the periods of the day when the demand for power is at its greatest.”

Each box, which takes up roughly two car parking spaces, stores 800kWh of electricity, giving the potential to power 200 homes for four hours where there is a supply disruption.

The battery boxes import electricity from the local electricity network when demand for electricity is low or when there are high levels of renewable energy available, exporting it back during periods of high demand to help address grid reliability issues prompted by an increase of intermittent (wind and solar) generation.

AMP Clean Energy is developing up to 1,250 Battery Boxes in Britain over the next three years and has received planning consent for over 80 schemes.

The other applications are expected to be considered by county planners at a later date.