RWE bags permit for 180 MW Byers Gill solar farm

RWE Renewables has secured development consent for its Byers Gill Solar Farm and co‑located 180 MW battery energy storage system, located between Stockton and Darlington in County Durham, England. Utilizing the UK’s NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) pathway—due to its size exceeding 50 MW—the application received recommendation in April 2025 and was formally approved by the Secretary of State on 23 July 2025, following a thorough examination process that engaged public consultation and statutory bodies. Once fully operational (subject to RWE’s financial investment decision), the project will generate enough clean energy to meet the annual needs of more than 70,000 UK households, and will enable power storage and distribution during peak demand. The consent marks RWE’s largest consented co‑located solar and battery project in the UK to date, reinforcing its strategic pipeline and contributing to national energy security, local biodiversity enhancement, continued agricultural land use, and long‑term community benefits.