A Scottish council’s planning committee has approved proposals for a 49MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
Developer Big Battery Co has received permission from Inverclyde Council. The site, just outside the town of Greenock, will now house 13 battery units with a combined capacity of 49.9 MW and a predicted lifespan of 40 years.
Before construction can begin, certain conditions must be met, including an ecological survey. However, the planning committee report notes that the project could have a positive impact on the area’s biodiversity, with the construction of artificial hedgehog shelters part of the development plans.
More storage space is needed
Industry body Solar Energy UK says that to meet net zero targets, Britain must increase its energy storage capacity from the current level of 8GW to 30 GW. While this may seem like an ambitious target, activity in the BESS sector is increasing, with a report from RenewableUK showing that the overall battery project pipeline has increased by 67.4% over the last twelve months.
Several major projects are currently being considered by planning committees, with RES recently submitting proposals for a 49.9 MW BESS to Torridge District Council and Statera is currently awaiting a decision on the application for a 500 MW BESS connected to the Culham Campus of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Meanwhile, Atlantic Green, Ameresco and Envision have signed a £200m deal to build a new 300MW BESS in the West Midlands.
