A renewables firm has submitted plans for a £130 million flexible energy battery storage park between Bathgate and Whitburn in West Lothian.
South Lanarkshire-based OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables), has submitted a planning application to West Lothian Council for a 3-hectare site which would meet the peak electricity demands of around 240,000 homes for two hours – or the average demands of around 600,000 households for the same period.
If approved, the site will be based at Pond Industrial Estate on Whitburn Road on the south-east edge of Bathgate.
Michael Newton, sustainable development co-ordinator at OnPath Energy said: “With Pond’s planning now formally submitted, this marks an incredibly exciting milestone for our efforts to bolster Scotland’s renewable energy landscape.
“Battery storage solutions are going to play an ever more critical role in providing green reserve energy when variable sources dip – letting us tap into pre-generated reserves rather than relying on imported energy or fossil fuels.
“Now that these plans are on the table and moving ahead with full momentum, I strongly believe Pond Flexible Energy Park has the potential to become a best-in-class asset for supporting net zero targets across the region if approved.
“We have worked to develop a good holistic project and I’m hopeful that others will recognise the significant social, economic and environmental in West Lothian as well as supporting Scotland’s net zero ambitions …
“Integrating large-scale storage into the UK’s renewable energy mix will help accelerate regional and national decarbonisation efforts.
“While still early stage, we eagerly anticipate the next steps – having already prioritised extensive engagement with the Bathgate community.
“Local people remain at the centre of our proposals throughout the planning process. If approved, those channels will remain open during the full project life cycle, from construction to operation until, ultimately, decommissioning.
“It’s vital for us that communities are given every opportunity to be involved in this process, shaping proposals to ensure that we deliver a positive legacy in Bathgate.”
OnPath Energy has successfully obtained planning permissions for 14 wind farms, with seven already operational across Scotland.