Britain has approved the Helios Renewable Energy Project-190MW of solar with on-site battery storage in North Yorkshire. Enso Green Holdings D says the scheme will supply clean power for about 47,500 homes each year.

Situated west of Camblesforth and north of Hirst Courtney, the project will connect to the National Grid at the Drax 132 kV substation. The co-located battery will store daytime generation and release it when demand is higher, supporting a planned 40-year operating life.

Project documents estimate annual generation at around 176 GWh-enough for roughly 47,495 typical homes-avoiding around 36,558 tonnes of CO2 each year, or about 1.46 million tonnes over 40 years. These figures use a 10.6% capacity factor drawn from official DUKES data and DESNZ emissions factors.

Consent was granted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 3 December 2025 after a six-month examination. The application was submitted on 2 July 2024, accepted on 30 July 2024, and recommended for approval on 3 September 2025. It is the 102nd energy application concluded within statutory timescales, with the decision signed by Minister Martin McCluskey.

Community input has shaped the design. Following consultation, the site area was reduced from about 757 hectares to roughly 476 hectares, with extensive new grassland, tree and hedgerow planting to deliver biodiversity net gain and reduce visual impacts. Public rights of way will remain open and a permissive footpath is proposed between Camblesforth and Carlton.

Battery safety is being planned from the outset. An outline Battery Energy Storage System Safety Management Plan sets out hazard identification, emergency planning and early liaison with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, aiming to keep risks broadly acceptable or tolerable and as low as reasonably practicable.

Construction is expected to last around 12 months. Consultation materials indicate an average of 36 heavy-goods vehicle deliveries per day during peak activity, using the M62, A645 and A1041 routes. The developer says it will prioritise local labour and is considering a community benefit fund.

Policy context is shifting. From 31 December 2025, the UK will raise the NSIP threshold for solar from 50MW to 100MW, with transitional provisions so projects already in the DCO system remain there. The change is intended to speed up decisions for mid-sized solar by moving them to local planning.

For North Yorkshire, pairing large-scale solar with storage next to the Drax grid node should help make better use of renewable output through the day and into the evening, while keeping residents involved through open hearings and published evidence. Project documents and updates are signposted via the official Helios website.