Baywa RE has secured planning permission for its Redshaw battery storage project in South Lanarkshire, southern Scotland. According to the developer, the facility’s 500 MW capacity makes it the largest storage power plant Baywa r.e. has built to date.
Strategic location
The site was chosen deliberately, located next to the planned Redshaw substation operated by Scottish Power Transmission. Incoming electricity will be stepped up from 132 to 400 kilovolts at this point. The project is strategically located at the B6 boundary, a key constraint on electricity transfer between Scotland and England. The new battery installation is designed to ease grid congestion at this critical point, allowing more renewable energy generated in Scotland to be transported south.
Enhancing grid flexibility
Following commissioning, the 500 MW project is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening energy security, accelerating UK grid decarbonisation and creating added value for consumers, according to BayWa r.e. “The battery storage project is intentionally positioned at a grid bottleneck that can sometimes hold back the delivery of clean power to where it is needed most,” explains Gemma Hamilton, Head of Development Strategy and Origination at BayWa r.e. UK. She highlighted the rapid approval process, which she attributed to close collaboration with the Scottish government, South Lanarkshire Council and statutory consultees, in particular the host community. Hamilton noted that this demonstrates how highly effective infrastructure projects can progress quickly when stakeholders work together.
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Benefit for the community
Redshaw forms part of BayWa r.e.’s growing portfolio of grid-connected storage projects in the UK, aimed at increasing flexibility in the electricity system through investment in critical infrastructure. In addition to stabilising power flows from Scotland to England, BayWa r.e. is supporting the local community. The company has pledged to contribute £50,000 annually to a dedicated Community Benefit Fund for the duration of the project’s operational life, providing long-term support for local initiatives. The fund may also attract additional resources, amplifying its impact. The project will allow local businesses to participate during both the construction and operational phases, helping to stimulate the regional economy.
Supporting biodiversity
The facility is also designed to deliver ecological benefits. BayWa r.e. will plant native trees and restore former peatland on the site, while enhancing habitat management. Planners are confident these measures will result in a net biodiversity gain across the site. (su)
