Renewable energy developer BayWa.re has submitted a planning application for a proposed 500MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Scotland.
The proposed Redshaw BESS is planned to be situated around 3km south-east of Douglas in the South Lanarkshire region of Scotland. The suggested site is located next to the M74 motorway, and the land is currently owned by Douglas and Angus Estate and is used primarily for sheep grazing. This site is located next to another planned major electricity infrastructure project; Scottish Power Transmission has plans to develop a 132kV substation nearby to support the growth of BESS and other renewable energy infrastructure in the area.
If approved, up to 400 BESS containers measuring roughly 6m x 2.5m x 3m will be built on the site, alongside biodiversity enhancements such as newly created native woodland, native broadleaf trees, and areas for peat restoration. BayWa.re is also proposing to create a community benefit fund of ?50,000 per year throughout the life of the project, which will be used to support community projects in the area.
The public is being invited to submit their comments on the planning application to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit until 18 April 2025. BayWa.re has not yet stated when it expects a decision on the planning application to be made, or when the project could begin construction if approved.
Big moves for BayWa.re
At the latter end of last year, BayWa.Re announced that it had been granted planning permission for its first Irish solar project.
The Springmount Solar Farm, a 60MWp development, was awarded planning consent by Tipperary County Council and An Bord Pleanála in September 2024, and construction is set to begin in 2026 ahead of a 2027 commissioning date. The project, to be located on 69 hectares of land around 7km west of the town of Clonmel, will also include a loop-in substation, which will directly connect to a nearby 110kV power line.
Looking ahead, BayWa.re’s Oaklands Solar Farm proposal is expected to reach a critical point very soon. The solar plus storage proposal has not had a capacity officially announced by the developer, but it falls above the threshold requiring it to progress through the government’s planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). This project is currently in the recommendation stage, and the examining authority is expected to have submitted its recommendation report to the secretary of state by next week (19 March 2025).
