Renewable energy company RES has been granted planning permission for its 49.9MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project near Montrose, Scotland.
The Dunmill Energy Storage System has been granted full planning permission by Angus Council, allowing construction to commence. Although no date has yet been set for the start of construction, RES estimates that construction will take approximately twelve months. The BESS will be located on the site next to the Bridge of Dun substation and connected to it.
Biodiversity was a key consideration in the project development plans; Thanks to proposals for planting native trees and other measures to improve biodiversity, this project will deliver a net biodiversity gain of approximately 12%.
Peter Deeney, development project manager for RES, said: “Energy storage will be crucial to enable the continued rollout of carbon-free energy needed to replace fossil fuel electricity generation. We welcome Angus Council’s positive decision, which will allow Dunmill Energy Storage System to play a role in supporting Scotland’s net zero emissions targets while ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the electricity grid.
“We would like to thank local residents and stakeholders for their feedback and support on this application. The collaborative design process resulted in a better proposal that can deliver a range of benefits both economically and environmentally.”
RES BESS in Great Britain
RES has developed more than 700 MW of energy storage projects in the UK and Ireland and currently manages more than 600 MW of operational storage projects.
The company has further ambitions in Scotland; Last month the company submitted a planning application for the Corshellach energy storage project to Moray Council. If approved, the proposed 49.9 MW BESS will be located adjacent to the Berryburn substation; RES’s planning application notes that this will place it close to existing energy infrastructure, minimizing the need for additional construction.
Milo Amsbury-Savage, Development Project Manager for RES, commented on how the general public is gaining a better understanding of the need for BESS projects, noting: “it is clear that people are feeling better informed about the need for energy storage and the crucial role it plays in the wider decarbonisation of the energy industry to achieve our net zero targets and tackle climate change.”
