Intelligent Land Investments (ILI) Group has secured planning consent for a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Scotland, continuing a run of consent successes.
The Flemyland BESS, to be located in North Ayrshire, Scotland, was awarded Section 36 planning consent by the local authority. This marks the third successful planning application ILI Group has received in the final quarter of this year—with a total 350MW of BESS capacity approved in Q4 2024 alone.
Two other projects were recently awarded planning consent: the 200MW Whitehill development near Gartcosh in late October and the 50MW Lochluichart project in the Scottish Highlands last month.
In July this year, the group submitted a request for section 36 planning consent for a major 1.5GW pumped hydro energy storage project (PHES), the Balliemanoch PHES, located in the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland. This development has a planned connection date of 2031 and, if approved, will be one of the largest PHES projects in Europe.
ILI Group, which is based in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, currently has a 4.7GW development portfolio, made up of 2.5GW of PHES projects and 2.2GW of utility-scale BESS projects.
Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, said: “To achieve three major planning consents is an incredible way to end the year. They represent a collective step forward in providing the energy storage capabilities Scotland needs to meet its net-zero targets. These projects will ensure renewable energy is utilised effectively, supporting a secure and stable grid while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
“Strategically, the connection dates for these projects align perfectly with the anticipated grid connection reforms, positioning them to play a crucial role in Scotland’s energy infrastructure for years to come.”
Scottish BESS market continues to grow
Scotland has recently proven itself to be something of a hotspot for BESS developments.
Last week, Root-Power announced it had been granted planning permission for a 50MW/100MWh BESS near Glasgow’s Ibrox Stadium in the city centre. A much larger project, a 200MW/400MWh BESS proposal from OnPath Energy, took a major step towards beginning construction in early October thanks to a no-objections vote from West Lothian Council, which will now pass the proposal on to the Scottish government’s Energy Consents Unit.
Apatura has had an even more significant win than this, having recently secured approvals for what will, once complete, become Scotland’s largest standalone BESS. The 700MW Aunchetiber BESS, which will be constructed near Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, is not only going to be Scotland’s largest standalone BESS, but is also the largest project Apatura has received approval for across its 10GW pipeline.
Another 49.9MW BESS being planned by XRE Gamma and Scala Renewables Group was able to fight through public objections to secure planning permission for the development, with Aberdeenshire Council approving the proposals despite receiving 51 letters of objection from the local community.
