PLANS for the build of a £130 million 200-megawatt battery storage facility in Bathgate have passed through West Lothian Council’s executive committee without objection.
The proposals, from OnPath Energy, will now be considered by ministers at the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit who will make the final decision on granting consent.
Stretching three hectares, the Pond Flexible Energy Park would 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, OnPath said.
The facility would play a ‘crucial’ role in Scotland’s journey to meet its 2040 net zero goals by storing renewable energy when consumer demand is low and releasing it back to the national grid when demand is high helping to balance the grid, make the most of renewable energy sources and reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Michael Newton, 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.”
In December of 2023, OnPath Energy submitted a planning application to West Lothian Council for the site which is set to be based at Pond Industrial Estate on Whitburn Road to the south east of Bathgate.
The development marks a significant step forward for OnPath Energy and its mission to maximise the social, economic, and environmental benefits of renewable energy for local communities.
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. In addition, Pond will pay around £950,000 in annual business rates which will support vital local services such as schools, hospitals and other public resources.
Onpath added that local community can expect to see real benefits delivered as a result of its commitment to working with local contractors ‘wherever possible’ and the community benefit proposal which will see over £1 million made available for community-led investment over the project lifetime.
Billy Weir, chair of Bathgate Community Council, said, “We believe this project represents a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future, not just for Bathgate, but for Scotland as a whole.
“The ability to store renewable energy and make it available when it’s needed most is essential to meeting our country’s ambitious net zero targets.”
