Energy storage facility near Rothienorman gets the go ahead
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Plans to install an energy storage facility near Rothienorman have been given the green light.
UK-based renewable energy firm Anesco applied to Aberdeenshire Council seeking permission to create the 50MW facility near Mains of Blackford farm.
The major development will see 15 battery racks, transformers and substations installed on the site.
While the site won’t generate electricity, it will store it and feed it to the grid when needed.
The vacant land was previously used for agricultural purposes.
Members of the Formartine area committee met on Tuesday to consider the proposal.
Senior project developer at Anesco, Laura Murphy, spoke at the meeting and told councillors that this was the most appropriate location for the development.
She said the Rothienorman site would provide enhanced energy storage capacity across Aberdeenshire and beyond.
Ms Murphy also said it would give “efficient storage and release of renewable energy in accordance with the National Grid to stop blackouts”.
She added: “It will increase the potential for renewable energy generation across Scotland which will have wider positive impacts on the environment and economy.
“The site will generate significant benefits by aiding the transition to clean energy whilst ensuring the quality and security of energy supply in Scotland is not compromised.”
Turriff and District councillor Alastair Forsyth welcomed the proposal.
He said: “This kind of equipment will aid our resilience to outages and offer the ability to prop up the grid when necessary.
“Here is an operation where that generation of electricity surplus to requirement on the grid can be then stored and used at a later date.”
The committee unanimously agreed to approve the application.
The storage facility will operate for 40 years and the site will be returned to its current state afterwards with all infrastructure removed.
