Councillors approve Fraserburgh battery storage facility
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Plans for a new battery storage facility that will help Fraserburgh achieve net zero have been given the green light.
Fraserburgh Energy Limited applied to Aberdeenshire Council seeking permission to create the 45MW facility on the outskirts of the town.
While the site won’t produce electricity, it will store energy produced by nearby solar and wind farms.
Power will then be released to the grid when needed.
Acoustic fencing will be installed around the site to prevent any noise nuisance to nearby properties.
The application was considered by the Banff and Buchan area committee last week.
Fraserburgh Energy Limited director, Jonathan Thompson, told councillors the site would provide “short bursts” of electricity to stabilise fluctuations in voltage or frequency in the grid.
He said: “Fraserburgh will need battery storage both to help manage local supply and demand, and to respond to the rise in offshore wind power.
“This site will make a significant contribution to both of those needs.”
Mr Thompson went on to say the development would “support the management of electricity supply as Fraserburgh progresses to net zero”.
Banff and District councillor John Cox asked what benefits the storage facility would bring to Fraserburgh’s electricity network.
Mr Thompson explained that power on the site could go anywhere but because it’s located in Fraserburgh, it would help SSE to manage the network in the area.
He also said it may “soak up” excess power produced by offshore windfarms.
Committee chairwoman councillor Doreen Mair suggested the application be approved.
She said: “There is a lack of storage for energy.
“Obviously there are times when it’s windy and electricity is being generated that’s not being used and being wasted.
“On the road to net zero, these applications will be coming forward more often as we will need storage for any sort of renewable energy.”
The committee unanimously agreed to a delegated grant, allowing officers to approve the plans when conditions are met.
