THE Scottish Government will consider plans for a battery storage site the size of almost two football pitches near Inverurie after it was refused by councillors.
GSC Wardhill Ltd wants to construct a 49.9MW battery energy storage system on land at Fairfield.
The proposed site, located just off the A920 between Newseat and Wartle, would include 22 battery storage containers.
Members of the Garioch area committee considered the application back in February, but their discussion ended with a vote which resulted in the plan being thrown out.
Determined to see the project come to fruition, developers have now taken their application to the Scottish Government in a bid to overturn the decision.
Reporter Sinead Lynch has been appointed to take on the matter and will determine the fate of the development.
Councillors had three reasons for voting against the plan.
They believed the chosen site wasn’t appropriate as it was too close to the Wartle Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest and could disturb protected species living there.
Committee members thought the battery storage system could have a negative impact on those living in the homes nearby too.
They were also worried about the proposed drainage and management of contaminated water that would be created by the development.
However, the developers argue that the refusal was “unfounded” as there were no objections from consultees including Transport Scotland.
And GSC Wardhill also stated the council’s own planning service recommended it be approved as it “fully complies” with both national and local planning policies.
In their appeal statement, the firm said: “The proposed development should be approved as a well designed, low-impact, and beneficial contribution to Scotland’s renewable energy infrastructure.”
Ahead of the February meeting, the application gathered 62 letters of objection from worried residents.
They shared the same concerns of the councillors, and also feared the battery storage site could go up in flames.
However, GSC Wardhill addressed this by saying a blaze would be “highly unlikely” but if one did occur a 180,000 litre water storage tank would be on site to douse any fires.
The battery storage system will help to import and export green electricity to the National Grid and support its electrification.
GSC Wardhill Ltd is a subsidiary of Green Switch Capital, a renewable energy developer committed to supporting Scotland and the UK in achieving net zero by 2045.
The firm specialises in battery storage, wind, and solar projects, with a focus on community engagement and biodiversity enhancement.
The appeal statement added: “Approving this project will support Scotland’s renewable energy transition, protect and enhance local biodiversity, and deliver tangible benefits to the community, all while adhering to the highest standards of planning policy and environmental stewardship.”
