A green energy plant the size of almost four football pitches could be built on the outskirts of Gloucester

Stor Power has applied to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on agricultural land at Linton Farm in Highnam.

The 1.95 hectare (4.8 acre) site would be transformed into a facility to store renewable energy with a capacity of approximately 99.9MW.

It would comprise 72 battery units and 36 transformer units housed within 2.9m high containers and other equipment such as a substation and switch room.

The facility would be used to store energy from solar and wind farms when there is an oversupply and release it when there is extra demand on the local grid.

In its application to Tewkesbury Borough Council, the company said the plant would "support the provision of local power during peak periods, maximise the potential of existing renewable energy infrastructure and facilitate the introduction of additional renewables into the system".

The government has a target under the Climate Change Act 2008 of reducing greenhouse gasses by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve this, National Grid is turning more to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

They can be more unpredictable but battery storage allows electricity to be charged or discharged almost instantaneously, helping stabilise the grid in the event of unexpected surges in power demand or losses of generation.

Stor Power said the landowner supports the application and the site has very limited existing ecological value and is well screened by existing topography and vegetation.

There have been no comments from members of the public recorded so far.

The application 22/01374/FUL can be viewed in full on the Tewkesbury Borough Council planning portal.