ScottishPower Renewables is set to build the biggest battery in the UK for use on a wind farm based in Scotland.
Iberdrola, ScottishPower Renewables parent company, has revealed it received approval to begin construction on a 50 megawatt (MW) lithium-ion battery storage unit at the 539MW Whitelees wind onshore wind development.
The project was given the green-light by Scottish Government officials today to start the construction, with the battery due for operational use by 2020.
Keith Anderson, Scottish Power chief executive, said: “This is a significant step forward in the road to baseload for renewable energy.
“By integrating storage technologies with onshore wind, we are blowing away one of the myths about renewable generation not being available when you need it.
“If we are to meet the bold target of net zero by 2050 and deliver the decarbonisation of our economy, transport and heating systems, large battery storage facilities such as this along with more wind farms like Whitelee are crucial.”
ScottishPower is the largest onshore wind developer in the UK.
Last year, the company officially opened its huge £1.2 billion offshore wind farm off the coast of Germany.
The 350 megawatt (MW) Wikinger project will supply electricity to 350,000 homes.
Much of the technology for the German North Sea project was designed in Scotland, with Aberdeen-based firm Ecosse Subsea Systems, part of Oceaneering, in charge of the supply and installation of the inter-array cables.
