Borders village ‘heart ripped out’ by battery site plans

Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) are currently expanding and creating new electricity substations across central and southern Scotland to cater for the increase in renewable energy being generated, mainly by onshore and offshore windfarms.

With the National Grid predicting that the amount of energy storage will need to increase by six times before the end of the decade, bids for new battery compounds are following behind each substation development.

The facilities will be required to store excess energy, which will then be released when there is less wind or demand increases.

As work to double the size of the Eccles substation, close to Leitholm, continues permission has been granted for two battery storage facilities on nearby farmland – with a further four in the pipeline.

Eccles Energy Centre Limited, which has submitted plans for a 500MW facility around two kilometres south of Leithholm, says there are significant restrictions to where battery developments can currently be connected to the network.

A spokesperson explained: “Connection capacity currently exists at expanded or newly developed strategic substations in the Scottish Borders and this is why we are working to develop, construct and operate a battery energy storage system in immediate proximity to the Eccles HV substation.

“Our site has also been selected with the view of minimising impact on environment, infrastructure, traffic and local communities, and the development will adhere to all local and national planning, and environmental requirements.”