Plans for new battery energy storage system takes Nairn potential sites to five
Five proposals for new battery energy storage systems (BESS) are currently being explored for Nairn after the announcement of plans for a further site near Househill.
Renewable energy company Anesco announced its intention to submit a planning application to develop a 30MW energy storage project on approximately five acres of land by Blackpark farm, which would be in addition to another ongoing project being developed in the area by Blackpark Energy Storage Limited.
A public exhibition for Anesco’s plans will be held at the Nairn Community Centre today and on Thursday, October 10, from 1pm to 7pm. The event is being organised by the developer as a planning application has not yet been submitted.
This follows a consultation carried out in late 2022, however the company is required to carry out further engagement with the community due to the company exceeding the time limit for the application to be submitted.
In December 2020, the Blackpark Energy Storage proposals were given the green light, with a slight variation in late 2023.
Other battery storage projects in Nairn include one at Househill sought by Whirlwind Energy Storage Limited (which was approved in February 2023 despite objections from Nairn River Community Council), OPDEnergy’s development at Grigorhill, which is currently at an early stage and one at Russell’s Wood by Whirlwind Energy Storage Limited on land off Granny Barbours Road.
A public consultation on the latter is to be held at the community centre in Nairn on September 12 between 3pm and 6pm.
Nairn and Cawdor councillor Paul Oldham, who is also vice chair of Highland Council’s south planning committee and who listed these developments in a recent newsletter, stated: “It’s worth noting that neither of the approved schemes has started, and this is a common pattern across the Highland Council area. I’m also not sure if the sub-station has capacity to cope with input from five BESSs if they all happened.
“The other factor in all of this is that the bypass, if and when it finally happens, which will separate locations 3 (Grigorhill) and 4 (Russell’s Wood ) from the sub-station, and indeed the development at Russell’s Wood is very close to the proposed bypass and the A96 would cut through their proposed access track.”
He added that following consultation with Highland Council’s officers this week it has emerged that several of the proposed BESSs can store 100MWh, and that just one would be sufficient to supply Nairn's households for about three days.
“I have also had discussion this week with planning officers about what’s going on,” he said.
“They tell me that OFGEM have created a “goldrush” pursuit of sites close to but outwith substation sites. Hence we’ve ended up with what we’re seeing south east of Nairn. What they are aiming to do through the planning process is to favour the least impactful sites and to require through conditions the restoration of those sites when they are no longer needed.
“I’m also investigating if we could demand community socio-economic benefits, like the financial benefits some areas of the ward currently get from wind farms.”
More information on the development can be found on Anesco’s website: https://anesco.com/blackpark-farm-home/
