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A hydro power station wants to build battery storage facility to help plug gaps in the UK Grid.

Innogy Renewables UK Ltd wants the 5MW plant next to its Dolgarrog Hydro Power Station in the Conwy Valley.

It is aimed at providing a fast response solution to volatilities in the UK’s Grid network.

A spokeswoman for Innogy said: “Innogy Renewables UK Ltd. has submitted a planning application for a battery storage scheme at Dolgarrog Hydro Power Station on an existing sustainable brownfield site.

“This is to install an energy storage container which could have a battery storage capacity of up to 5MW.

“This kind of infrastructure could offer the opportunity to store surplus electricity for use at times of high demand and we await planning decision before considering our next steps.

“We are unable to comment on potential investment costs or potential jobs at this point in time.”

The hydro station in Dolgarrog was built in the early 1920s to provide electricity for the aluminium factory which stood on the site now occupied by Surf Snowdonia.

The power station - supplied from two giant pipes - underwent a £15 million upgrade in 2014 to secure the generation of renewable energy from the site for the foreseeable future.

Cowlyd reservoir provides water for Dolgarrog’s “high head” scheme via a 5km pipeline.

Coedty reservoir provides water for Dolgarrog’s “low head” scheme (15MW total output) via a 3km pipeline with a catchment area of around 27 square kilometres.

At times of high demand water is released and this powers the turbines at the hydro power station in Dolgarrog.

There are around 40 workers at the site.

A statement supporting this application said: “It is considered that the proposed development would support the decarbonisation of the energy industry in the UK by providing a fast response solution to the current system volatilities in the Grid network.

“This proposed development is deemed essential infrastucture on an optimally located site and would make a contribution towards the future security of UK electricity supplies.

“It not only assists in mitigating the risk of power cuts as generation capacity is lost over the next few years but also supports the UK in meeting its carbon reduction commitments.”