Boat of Garten development will back up the national grid

A new battery energy storage facility, which will contribute to the resilience of the national grid, was approved this morning by the Cairngorms National Park Authority at its planning committee meeting.

The development, which comprises a control building, switch room, battery storage containers, inverter containers, and other associated landscaping works, will go ahead just outside the village of Boat of Garten, next to an existing electricity sub station.

The 49.9MW energy storage facility will house up to 50 battery storage units in steel containers. Ancillary structures include transformers and a sub-station building of approximately 100 square metres.

Outlining the proposals, planning officer Alan Atkins said: “In considering the application we need to take into account the policies in our own Local Development Plan as well as Scottish Planning Policy, especially in relation to energy security. National policy recognises the need for energy storage schemes that allow renewable energy to be stored and then released into the grid when required.

“This battery storage unit will provide support to the national grid and will ensure a consistent supply of energy from all sources – though the opportunities for battery storage have been partly driven by the peaks and troughs associated with renewable energy generation. In general terms, the battery storage facility will contribute to the resilience and efficiency of the national grid, ensuring continuity of supplies to all users.”

Planning convener Dr Gaener Rodger commented: “I am happy to support the officer’s recommendation to approve this application. It is quite an unusual one for us to consider but seems entirely appropriate in this location close to the existing sub station.”

Also approved at today’s Planning Committee meeting was a joint application from Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd and the Scottish Ski Club for the installation of a surface tow, approximately 200m in length, on the side of the White Lady ski slope.

The owners of the Kinrara Estate also had their application for prior approval for a series of tracks approved. Brewdog want to create and improve All-Terrain Vehicle tracks on a hillside behind Altnachriche, near Aviemore, in order that a woodland creation scheme can be undertaken.

Full planning committee papers are on the CNPA website.

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