Plans for a 200-megawatt battery storage park in Bathgate worth £130 million have passed through West Lothian Council’s executive committee without objection.

Put forward by UK renewable energy firm OnPath Energy, the proposals for the storage facility will now be considered by ministers at the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit, who will make the final decision.

Stretching three hectares, the Pond Flexible Energy Park will be able to store renewable energy when consumer demand is low, and release it back to the national grid when demand is high—assisting with balancing the grid and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The facility can help meet the peak electricity demands of around 240,000 homes for two hours, or the average demands of around 600,000 households for the same period.

Michael Newton, who serves as sustainability developer at OnPath Energy, said: “As Scotland moves towards its ambitious net zero targets, this battery storage facility will provide much-needed flexibility in how we manage renewable energy.

“Battery storage solutions like Pond have a massive role to play in reaching net zero targets and will become an increasingly vital part of our energy infrastructure as we move away from traditional energy sources like coal and gas.

“The new facility will store surplus energy generated from wind and solar farms when production exceeds demand, and release it during peak consumption periods, helping to stabilise the energy grid and improve the UK’s energy security.”

OnPath Energy submitted a planning application for the site, set to be based at Pond Industrial Estate on Whitburn Road, to the south east of Bathgate, to West Lothian Council in December of 2023.

In addition to environmental benefits, the project is estimated to support around 80 jobs during the construction period, with an estimated £1.6 million in annual wages. Pond is also set to pay around £950,000 in annual business rates which will support vital local services such as schools, hospitals and other public resources.

The development marks a significant potential step forward for OnPath Energy and its aim to maximise the social, economic, and environmental benefits of renewable energy for local communities.

Overall, OnPath has secured planning permissions for 14 wind farms, with three already operational across Scotland, and another three set to start construction in the next two years.

Recommended reading

• Are High Costs Impeding the Public From Adopting Low Carbon Tech?
• Scots Green Hydrogen Projects Get £7M Funding
• Strathclyde Project Uses AI to Empower Household Net Zero Drive

Speaking again on the Bathgate facility, Newton said: “With these plans now in motion and gaining full momentum, I firmly believe that this project has the potential to become a leading asset in supporting the region’s net zero targets.

“Community involvement will be key to the success of this project, and we are committed to ensuring that local people benefit from the positive economic and social value that this project could bring.

“As with all our projects, we’ve made sure to work closely with the local community throughout the planning process, and we are confident that this project will bring considerable economic and environmental benefits to the region.

“This now allows us to progress to the next crucial phase with a decision to come in due course from the Energy Consents Unit.”