Rothienorman battery storage facility is approved by councillors
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Councillors have approved plans for a new battery storage facility near Rothienorman that will help to increase the UK’s renewable energy capacity.
One Planet Developments Limited lodged plans for the 49.9MW facility with Aberdeenshire Council back in October last year.
The firm wanted to create the storage system on land next to Overhill Farm.
It is expected to be in operation for 40 years.
However the site will be returned back to its current state after the storage system is no longer needed.
Electricity generated by nearby wind turbines and solar panels will feed into batteries on the site and will be released into the grid when required.
The site itself will not create any electricity.
One Planet’s development will see 42 battery containers installed along with 21 inverters and 13 transformers.
Three local residents had objected to the proposal, raising concerns about noise, loss of agricultural land and traffic.
The application previously went before the Formartine area committee last month but councillors deferred it to allow them to visit the site before making a final decision.
However, local members considered the plan again yesterday.
James Wallwork, development director at One Planet, attended the meeting and said the storage facility would be “beneficial to Aberdeenshire”.
He also said there was an “urgent need” for battery energy storage facilities to support the delivery of low carbon energy.
Mr Wallwork added: “This project will support the delivery of more home-grown renewable electricity and make us less reliant on fossil fuel imports.
“Abundant lower cost renewable electricity will help businesses in Aberdeenshire deliver green growth and jobs.
“It will also contribute to lower electricity bills for families and businesses across Aberdeenshire and the UK.”
Turriff and District councillor Alastair Forsyth urged the committee to approve the storage site, despite confessing he lost some sleep over it.
He said: “The national significance of this particular development bares heavy on the local councillors’ shoulders.
“There’s no question that the natural order of rural setting in this development will be upset for a fair amount of time.
“But our job as councillors is to look at responsible land use in conjunction with the national plan to put Scotland in the position where we’re looking to achieve a net zero outcome.
“This development has caused me a loss of some sleep, particularly as a local member and taking cognisance of people’s feelings.
“But one has to balance that across all of the benefits, features and advantages of these developments.”
Following brief debate, the committee agreed to approve the storage facility.
