Apatura, a leading developer in renewable energy storage, has announced a significant achievement, reaching over 2.1 Gigawatts (GW) of consented electricity storage capacity in central Scotland. This milestone follows the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit granting planning permission for their latest project: a 560MW / 1120MWh grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located northeast of Glasgow, near Clydebank.

This 29-hectare site marks the eleventh BESS development for which Apatura has secured planning permission in the last two years. The planned development, known as the Whitehall project, is situated on land adjacent to Cochno Road, approximately two miles from Clydebank and eight miles from Glasgow city centre. It will connect to the national grid via an underground cable to the nearby Windyhill substation, 560 metres away, and also the Drumchapel substation, two miles distant.

Andrew Philpott, Chief Development Officer at Apatura, highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility: “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."

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Philpott further explained the broader impact of such projects: “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." He concluded by reaffirming Apatura’s commitment to providing affordable clean energy and upgrading the country’s energy infrastructure.

In their Decision Letter, Scottish Ministers underscored the vital role of the proposed development, stating they “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."

This latest consent builds on recent successes for Apatura, including planning permission secured last month for a 100MW / 200MWh project in Killwinning, North Ayrshire, and a 50MW / 100MWh project at East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire.

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is an advanced technological system designed to store electrical energy during periods of high generation and low demand – such as when renewable sources like wind or solar are producing excess power – and then discharge that energy back into the grid during times of high demand, thereby helping to stabilise the energy network.