ARTICLE · 09 SEPTEMBER 2026

BESS – Consenting In Scotland

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Since my blog last September, there has continued to be lots of activity in the battery energy storage systems (BESS) sector in Scotland.

ScotlandPrivacy

Since my blog last September, there has continued to be lots of activity in the battery energy storage systems (BESS) sector in Scotland.

Coalburn 1

Recently Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ Coalburn 1 BESS (South Lanarkshire) commenced commercial operations. It’s the largest operational battery in Europe.

Section 36 consents

Since January, the Scottish Ministers have granted consent for 8 BESS schemes over 50MW, and for several other solar or wind farm projects which include BESS. None of the 8 BESS schemes were EIA development, and there were no unresolved planning authority objections, so no examination by a Scottish Government reporter.

Planning guidance

In March the Scottish Government issued “Battery Energy Storage Systems: planning guidance”

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