RWE, German multinational energy company, has secured planning consent for its 180MW (AC) Byers Gill Solar Farm in Northeast England. The project is near Stockton and Darlington and also includes a 180MW (AC) battery energy storage system. Because the project is larger than 50MW, it was reviewed through the UK’s national infrastructure process and approved by the Secretary of State. Once running, it can supply electricity to over 70,000 homes each year. Having both solar and battery storage at one site means energy can be stored and used later when demand is high. The site is planned to support local biodiversity, continued farming, and wildlife habitats. Byers Gill is RWE’s largest approved co-located solar and storage project in the UK. The company is now progressing toward an internal investment decision to advance development.RWE plans to build a 24.7MW solar project in Germany, before its approval for the 180MW Byers Gill project in the UK.