Redditch looks set to play a key part in the UK’s climate change battle.

Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy wants to build a high-tech storage centre at Feckenham feeding power into the National Grid.

The Greener Grid Park is planned on what is currently grazing land south of Astwood Lane, near an existing energy sub station.

The plan, proposed by renewable energy specialists Statkraft UK, is to develop a unit which can store energy in huge batteries so that the power can be called on when required by the grid.

One of the main drawbacks of renewable energy is that it is intermittent because it depends on weather conditions.

But Statkraft are investing in improved storage systems using special batteries, which can help avoid blackouts and shortages.

The firm say these sort of storage and management systems are vital to ‘decarbonise’ the energy industry.

The Feckenham plant would offer a rapid response site to feed energy into the National Grid when needed.

Statkraft are specialists in hydro, wind and solar power, plus battery storage and supplying district heating. They own and operate 11 wind farms in Britain and the Nordic countries.

The site for the new unit has been chosen because the Feckenham electricity substation is a key strategic one for transmission and the grid there is subject to voltage variations.

The firm have promised stringent safety measures, strong security - including fencing and cameras – and a major landscaping scheme including the planting of 60 large trees and hundreds of smaller ones and hedgerows.

The application for planning approval in the Green belt can be seen in the Bromsgrove District Council website’s planning section Planning and Building Control - bromsgrove.gov.uk

So far no objections have been raised by the public.