The Project Details
Lower 48 Energy are proposing to develop a 200 MW, 2hr BESS
The Development
L48 are proposing to develop a 200 MW, 2hr BESS on site alongside an existing wind turbine and close to existing farm buildings and existing substation.
The 200 MW of BESS will consist of containerized Li-ion battery packs connected together through strings of inverters and transformers. All the transformer connections will be combined in a customer substation and fed to a grid transformer which will be interfaced to the SSE Transmission network.
The development would also involve improving the existing access track to the site, laying of services and drainage infrastructure within the Battery compound.
The BESS development will be screened by planting landscaping around the periphery so that the visual impacts are minimized, particularly to the northwest in the direction of the A77.
The site is located in a field of undulating ground and the base of the steep slopes of the moors but is generally well screened. We are carefully considering the siting of the BESS units, transformers and other equipment so as visual impacts are minimised or mitigated through design and associated landscaping.
The Location
The site is located on slightly sloped agricultural land 0.5 km south of the small hamlet of Smyrton, beyond forestry and farmland approximately 3 km southeast of Ballantrae, within South Ayrshire. The site is strategically located close to the Converter Station at Auchencrosh where existing 275kV transmission lines are connected to Northern Ireland via a submarine cable link for importing electricity.
Need for the Project
With up to 25GW of offshore renewables due to be developed in the next decade under ScotWind and INTOG Licences, the Transmission Grid is undergoing major upgrades. There are plans of additional 400 kV and 132 kV circuit reinforcements and substations across Scotland, to enable Net Zero 2030 Developments. A further series of offshore high voltage direct current (HVDC) links is under consideration from Wales to Scotland and to offshore windfarms in the North Sea.
This presents an opportunity to develop the Glenapp project to store excess renewable electricity in the times of excessive generation and supply the electricity back in times of low generation and high demand. The BESS project would be able to store and supply 290,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually (which is equivalent of supplying 100,000 homes) and in the process displace ca. 77,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
When operational, the Glenapp BESS will significantly contribute towards local and national decarbonization targets and help achieve net zero by 2050.
Impact on the Local Area
Based on initial surveys and analysis the site has limited environmental constraints. The site is well screened from Smyrton and the wider area and by proposing to screen the northwest site boundary we will reduce the visual impact when viewing from the A77.
Our planning advisors also feel it unlikely that the proposed development would trigger an Environmental Impact Assessment requirement, but this will later determine as we progress through the consenting process.
The BESS layout design will be refined through further environmental surveys, as well as technical inputs from our engineers. The multi-disciplinary approach will be undertaken to produce a layout design which optimizes the design and minimises impacts on the environment.
Key drivers to the design process are:
- To minimise visual impacts from settlements, and key routes in the surrounding area, eg Smyrton, the A77 and the adjacent core path;
- To minimise impacts on sensitive habitats, and to minimise disturbance;
- To ensure that nearby residents are not subject to any increased noise effects;
- Minimising the impacts on local residents during construction and paying careful attention to traffic routes and construction timings;
- To avoid other offsite environmental constraints such as effects on moor areas with bird activity; and
- Minimise impacts on recreational and tourism receptors during construction and operation.
L48 are committed to engaging with the community and other stakeholders at the earliest stages of the project’s development. In this way we will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
To find out more about our engagement proposals please visit ‘The Community’.
