A 560MW battery energy storage system (BESS) has secured planning permission for development near Clydebank, marking a significant milestone for Scotland’s green energy ambitions.
The site, adjacent to Cochno Road, 8 miles from Glasgow, and covering 29 hectares, will connect to the national grid via the nearby Windyhill and Drumchapel substations. The project, spearheaded by Apatura, is intended to bolster grid stability by storing renewable energy for later use — smoothing variations in supply and demand.
Andrew Philpott, Chief Development Officer at Apatura, stressed the importance of the new installation:
“The Whitehall project is in a carefully chosen strategic location that will directly support the UK’s energy security strategy. Once commissioned, it will play a key role in providing the resilient infrastructure network needed for a net zero future.”
He added:
“Battery storage plays a major role in Scotland and the wider UK’s transition to a low carbon energy system and economy. Projects like Whitehall will directly contribute to stabilising energy prices and reducing bills for households and businesses, and are also integral to the UK’s goals of cutting emissions and boosting energy independence and security.”
Scottish Ministers echoed these sentiments in their approval letter:
“We regard the proposed development as essential infrastructure. Through the provision of energy storage, it adds flexibility and resilience necessary to maintain secure and reliable supplies of energy to all our homes and businesses as our energy transition takes place.”
Despite the strategic rationale, the development has not been universally welcomed among local residents. Jane Forbes, a resident living near the proposed site, voiced her concerns:
“I don’t think the health and safety aspect of it is very good. There needs to be legislation brought in so that these prospectors can’t just come in and find any empty land and start putting batteries on it.”
Councillor Gordon Scanlan from West Dunbartonshire Council acknowledged the national need but highlighted safety issues:
“I fully understand we need to meet our energy challenges, the needs nationally for battery storage. But I think there’s a number of significant safety concerns. Having met the developers myself and having them admit there’s a lack of fire safety regulation in place for this specific type of battery on this very large site which was initially one of if not the biggest in Europe. … There’s a number of other concerns including noise concerns. There’s going to be a significant amount of noise when the batteries are discharging and recharging and that could be at all times of night.”
Apatura recently secured planning permission for another two new battery storage developments: a 100MW project in Killwinning during May and a 50MW project at East Kilbride in April.
