BayWa r.e. gets green light for 500 MW Scottish battery

Baywa r.e. will implement its largest battery storage project in Europe to date in Scotland. The Munich-based company announced on Thursday it had received approval for the 500 MW facility in South Lanarkshire.

The Redshaw battery energy storage facility is located in close proximity to Scottish Power Transmission’s planned 400/132 kV substation and is strategically positioned at the so-called B6 bottleneck – a central bottleneck in the British electricity grid – between Scotland and England.

The final storage capacity of the project has not yet been determined, a Baywa r.e. spokesperson told pv magazine. Commissioning is scheduled for 2029/30. The goal of the project is to relieve grid congestion and harness the full potential of renewable energy from the wind- and solar-rich north for the south of the United Kingdom. Baywa r.e. has not disclosed the project’s investment volume.

“We are particularly pleased that the permit was granted quickly, thanks to the close collaboration with the Scottish Government, South Lanarkshire Council, the statutory authorities, and, above all, the local community. This shows that high-impact infrastructure can be implemented quickly when everyone involved pulls together,” said Gemma Hamilton, head of development strategy & origination at Baywa r.e. UK Ltd.

As part of the project, Baywa r.e. has committed to contributing £50,000 ($67,355) annually into a dedicated community fund throughout its operational lifespan. The fund will support local initiatives over the long term and may be further increased through additional grants. BayWa r.e. also intends to collaborate closely with local businesses during both the construction and operational phases.