Renewable energy developer Apatura has received planning consent for a new grid-scale 24MW / 48MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) on Parkhouse Road, near the town of Barrhead, southwest of Glasgow.

The project is the twelfth BESS development Apatura has secured approval for in the last two years.

The nine-acre site, which will operate for a period of 40 years before being restored, was chosen for its proximity to Crookston Substation. The new facility will consist of 12 battery units, four power conversion system units, and other associated infrastructure. It is designed to connect, store, and discharge renewably generated energy from the substation to the grid when required.

-- Advertisement --

Glasgow City Council's planning report confirmed the project complies with planning policy, noting that it would "provide a positive contribution in addressing the global climate crisis."

Commenting on the news, Apatura's Chief Development Officer Andrew Philpott said: "This latest project approval is another step in Apatura's mission to deliver the infrastructure that the UK needs to decarbonise its energy supply. Battery storage is essential for maintaining an energy grid's stability and resilience, and it's also integral for achieving more stable energy prices and cheaper household bills."

Philpott added that projects like the one planned at Barrhead also benefit the local community by creating new jobs. The approval follows news last month that Apatura secured planning consent for a new 560MW / 1120MWh BESS project near Clydebank. Apatura has now secured permission to build a combined total of more than 2.2GW in electricity storage capacity across central Scotland.