Drax has submitted an application to National Infrastructure Planning for its Repower gas generation and battery storage project.

The company plans to repurpose Drax’s two remaining coal generating units (units 5 and 6) with up to 3.6GW of gas-fired power generation and up to 200MW of battery storage. The plans were announced in September 2017.

The proposed project comprises up to four new gas turbines each rated at 600MW. The units would use existing steam turbines. The batteries would comprise one per generating unit, each up to 100MW. A new gas pipeline will be built to connect to the existing National Transmission System pipeline approximately 3km to the east across largely agricultural land.

The Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to determine if it will accept the application for a development consent order. If accepted a decision would be taken on whether to grant consent by the secretary of state, with a decision expected in 2019.