The pending recession in the UK could be deeper and longer than anticipated, but the pipeline of new battery energy projects in the North of Scotland is not slowing down, according to a 2022 scenario review.
The review of the North of Scotland power licence area by analysts Regen and electricity distribution network operator Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said there is a large pipeline of potential projects.
Some 34 sites totalling 1.1GW have accepted connection offers to the distribution network and 13 have received connection quotes totalling 590MW. No operational battery projects were connected in 2021.
The first battery storage project connecting to the distribution network in the North of Scotland licence area was an 8MW battery at Lerwick Power Station on the island of Orkney. As of August 2022, there were 45 contracted battery projects totalling 2GW (up from 22 projects in 2020, totalling 668MW).
Four battery storage sites (75MW) gained planning permission in 2022, all on the east coast. Another seven sites have applied for planning permission. Despite this, the proportion of sites that will progress to commissioning is unclear, according to the review.
The review area covers the Scottish Islands, Highlands and urban centres such as Aberdeen and Dundee.
Regen has worked with SSEN since 2018 to deliver distribution network future energy scenario assessments for the electricity distribution networks in the North of Scotland and Southern Central England licence areas.
Source: Regen & SSEN
The Leading the Way scenario represents the fastest switch to net zero by 2050 and System Transformation the slowest. Steady Progression does not fully decarbonise.
