BayWa r.e. has received Section 36 planning consent for its largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in Europe – a 500MW installation at Redshaw in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Strategically sited next to Scottish Power Transmission’s planned 400/132kV Redshaw substation, the BESS sits at the B6 boundary – one of the UK’s most constrained grid zones. Once operational, the system will help relieve congestion and enable greater transfer of renewable energy from Scotland to demand centres in the south, accelerating decarbonisation and improving energy security.
“Securing planning consent for Redshaw BESS is more than a milestone for our project: it is a commitment to the future stability of the UK grid and the acceleration of our clean energy transition,” said Gemma Hamilton, head of development strategy and origination at BayWa r.e. UK. “The BESS is intentionally positioned at a grid bottleneck that can sometimes hold back the delivery of clean power to where it is needed most.”
The project also includes a £50,000 annual Community Benefit Fund to support local initiatives throughout its operational life, with potential for additional match funding. Local businesses will have opportunities to participate during construction and operation, while ecological enhancements – such as peatland restoration and native woodland creation – are expected to deliver biodiversity gains across the site.
