Scotland wins £800m battery energy storage plan

Scotland will be home to the three largest battery energy storage systems in Europe after investment fund Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), the largest supplier of battery storage in the UK, committed £800 million to the development of the plan.

CIP said it will start construction on the Coalburn 2 project in South Lanarkshire and the Devilla project near Kincardine in Fife.

The two new battery energy storage systems — combined with Coalburn 1 already under construction — will be able to store and supply the grid with 3GWh of electricity.

CIP partner Nischal Agarwa said: “CIP’s latest investments in Scottish battery energy storage will support the UK’s pursuit of a clean power system by 2030 and delivering a net zero carbon economy by 2050.

“Battery storage, which is well located, like our Coalburn and Devilla projects, enhances energy security, provides the grid with much needed flexibility and enables low cost renewables to be deployed faster.”

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “The construction of the two largest battery systems in Europe, in South Lanarkshire and Fife, delivered by international investment, is to be welcomed as a significant contribution to the growth of Scotland’s energy transition infrastructure.
“By helping to supply reliable and secure power to our homes and businesses, well-located storage systems, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, can move us closer to net zero and directly support the communities around them.
“Scotland is open for business when it comes to new investments in the technologies and systems that will play a role in our just energy transition.”