Source material shows how large battery schemes still move through the Planning Inspectorate: the Steeple Renewables Project, combining about 450MW of solar with roughly 150MW of battery storage in Nottinghamshire, was granted development consent on 9 October 2026 within the statutory timescales set by the Planning Act 2008. Alongside this, National Grid has highlighted work intended to accelerate electricity connections for industry.
Consent granted for a solar and battery project
The Steeple Renewables Project received development consent from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, announced by the Planning Inspectorate on 9 October 2026. The application covers a solar farm in Nottinghamshire comprising approximately 450MW of solar energy generation and approximately 150MW of battery energy storage system. The application was submitted by Steeple Solar Farm Limited on 14 May 2025 and accepted for examination on 11 June 2025.
Recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 10 July 2026, following an examination in which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties gave evidence to the Examining Authority. The decision, the recommendation and the evidence considered are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.
Statutory timescales and local involvement
The Planning Inspectorate stated that this was the 115th energy application out of 183 applications examined to date, and that it was again completed within the statutory timescale laid down in the Planning Act 2008. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in the six-month examination.
The Inspectorate said the Examining Authority listened to and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. The decision was made by Baroness Curran on behalf of the Energy Secretary's legal authority.
Connection work and clean power ambitions
National Grid's news pages describe the biggest investment in Barnstaple's electricity network for decades, framed as improving reliability for thousands of customers. They also record a partnership with Net Zero Industry Wales and Celtic Freeport to launch an innovation programme testing new ways of making better use of existing electricity infrastructure and accelerating industrial electricity connections in South Wales.
Government guidance for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme sets the wider context, referring to the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and a transition to an electricity system where at least 95% of Great Britain's electricity generation comes from clean sources. The same guidance notes that energy policy is largely devolved in Northern Ireland, so the scheme applies in Great Britain only.
Rules for smaller battery connections
For small-scale equipment, source material describes a separate consent route. Since 27 August 2026, SI 2026 No. 848 has allowed a plug-in solar device to be connected to an ordinary socket up to 800 VA, but the device must be verified Compliant on the ENA register as Plug-in Solar and must not contain a battery.
The government's Interim Product Specification is quoted as saying the plug-in rules do not apply to plug-in battery systems or plug-in solar PV devices integrated with battery systems. A device with battery storage therefore needs a conventional installation by an electrician, who notifies the network operator under G98.
Key Takeaways
The Steeple Renewables Project was granted development consent on 9 October 2026 for about 450MW of solar and about 150MW of BESS in Nottinghamshire.
The Planning Inspectorate said the application was its 115th energy application out of 183 examined to date and was completed within the Planning Act 2008 statutory timescale.
National Grid has partnered with Net Zero Industry Wales and Celtic Freeport on a programme testing ways to accelerate industrial electricity connections in South Wales.
Under SI 2026 No. 848, plug-in solar devices up to 800 VA may use an ordinary socket, but devices containing batteries fall outside those rules and need an electrician and G98 notification.
Sources