49.9MW battery storage plant proposal near Coulhill Wood in Alness noted by Ross-shire councillors
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INITIAL proposals for a major development of a battery energy storage system near Alness have been noted by Ross-shire councillors.
The proposal by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire is for 64 battery storage enclosures, associated power conversion units and transformers, substations, telecommunications equipment and grid connection.
The development at Contullich – at land adjacent to Coulhill Wood, north of Alness – was noted as a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) at this week's North Planning Applications Committee.
The site is on land 410m north-east of The Smithy in Alness.
The PAN is a statutory requirement for planning applications for major or national developments and must be lodged at least 12 weeks prior to the submission of a planning application.
A second in-person consultation event is planned for Friday, September 25 after an earlier one at Ardross Community Hall. The venue for the second drop-in is still to be confirmed.
The proposed system involves lithium-ion battery technology and will have a capacity of 49.9MW. The majority of the infrastructure will be housed on an area of hardstanding enclosed within a fenced compound.
Three potential options for a permanent access track are up for consideration. The applicant's preferred access option is to the northwest of the site, using the existing access track created by SHET for the Alness substation.
The site is currently an agricultural field, situated south of the B9176 Struie Road.
Background information submitted to date states: "The proposed system involves proven lithium-ion battery technology which RES has deployed at multiple projects at locations including England, Scotland, Ireland, the USA and Canada."
A letter has been sent to all residents living within a 1km buffer of the site centre, and any houses that fall just on the outskirts of this, notifying them of the public event and PAN submission.
