Qair develops its first UK storage project with a 49.9 MW battery energy storage system approved

French independent renewable energy producer Qair has secured planning permission for a 49.9 MW standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This is its first such project in the UK, and reinforces its expansion in the country, where it has secured approvals for more than 140 MW of solar capacity in the past 18 months.

The company is actively developing a European portfolio of battery storage projects of approximately 17 GWh, including more than 800 MWh already secured in Poland, as well as other projects underway in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Romania and the United Kingdom.

According to the European Market Monitor on Energy Storage report , total storage capacity in Europe reached 89 GW by the end of 2024, and is expected to add another 128 GW by 2030, in response to the needs of grid balancing, ancillary services and enhanced security of supply.

Moreover, according to analyst firm Rho Motion, BESS installations worldwide increased by 54% in 2025 compared to the first half of 2024. Among these markets, the UK remains one of the most attractive in Europe, thanks to favorable regulations, a mature electricity grid and strong investor interest.

From pv magazine France.