The Project Details
Lower 48 Energy are proposing to develop a 200 MW, 2hr BESS alongside a further 175 MW, 2hr BESS.
The Development
Lower 48 Energy are proposing to develop a 375 MW, 2hr BESS on site (a 200 MW phase alongside a further 175 MW phase), close to existing farm buildings and the proposed ‘Greens’ SSE Substation.
The BESS will consist of two phases of containerized Li-ion battery packs connected together through strings of inverters and transformers. All the transformer connections will be combined in customer substations and fed to grid transformers which will be interfaced to the SSE Transmission network.
The developments would also involve the construction of a new access track to the site, laying of services and drainage infrastructure within the Battery compounds.
The BESS developments will be screened by planting landscaping around their periphery so that the visual impacts are minimised, particularly to the south and east.
The site is located in fields of gently sloping ground with existing boundary enclosures. It is well screened to the north and east. We are carefully considering the siting of the BESS units, transformers and other equipment so as visual impacts are minimised or mitigated through design and associated landscaping. The relationship with the proposed ‘Greens’ Substation will be carefully considered.
The Location
The site extends to approximately 8.1 ha and is located on farmland around 3.0km to the south of Cuminestown and around 7.2 km west of New Deer. It comprises of two fields located adjacent to existing farm buildings. Both are bound by a mix of hedgerows, stone dyke and post and wire fences. There is a small area of woodland separated from the northern site boundary by a public road. The site is strategically located close to the proposed ‘Greens’ SSE Substation.
Need for the Project
With up to 25GW of offshore renewables due to be developed in the next decade under ScotWind and INTOG Licences, the Transmission Grid is undergoing major upgrades. There are plans of additional 400 kV and 132 kV circuit reinforcements and substations across Scotland, to enable Net Zero 2030 Developments. A large SSE Substation ‘New Deer’ has recently been built 3.1km to the southeast for the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm. Prospective proposals for the new SSE Substation at ‘Greens’ are proposed directly north of the site, which will also enable the transmission of renewable energy from points of generation to areas of demand.
This presents an opportunity to develop the Upper Greenfields projects to store excess renewable electricity in the times of excessive generation and supply the electricity back in times of low generation and high demand. The BESS projects would be able to store and supply 550,000MWh of renewable electricity annually (which is equivalent of supplying 190,000 homes) and in the process displace ca. 145,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
When operational, the Upper Greenfields BESS will significantly contribute towards local and national decarbonization targets and help achieve net zero by 2050.
Impact on the Local Area
Based on initial surveys and analysis the site has limited environmental constraints. Existing landscape features, supplemented by new planting with peripheral bunding and setbacks from site edges will minimise visual intrusion to nearby properties and areas. The ‘visually recessive’ BESS units along with their Substations have been located to avoid overly prominent parts of the site and proximity to the residential receptors.
Our planning advisors also feel it unlikely that the proposed development would trigger an Environmental Impact Assessment requirement, but this will later determine as we progress through the consenting process.
The BESS layouts designs will be refined through further environmental surveys, as well as technical inputs from our engineers. The multi-disciplinary approach will be undertaken to produce layout designs which optimises their design and minimises impacts on the environment.
Key drivers to the design process are:
- To minimise visual impacts from settlements, local roads and homes;
- To minimise impacts on sensitive habitats, and to minimise disturbance;
- To ensure that nearby residents are not subject to any increased noise effects;
- Minimising the impacts on local residents during construction and paying careful attention to traffic routes and construction timing, especially alongside the nearby SSE Substation;
- To avoid other offsite environmental constraints such as effects on any habitat areas with wildlife activity; and
- Minimise impacts on recreational and tourism receptors during construction and operation.
We are mindful of the ‘cumulative’ effects of this project combined with other proposed developments in the local area.
L48 are committed to engaging with the community and other stakeholders at the earliest stages of the project’s development. In this way we will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
To find out more about our engagement proposals please visit ‘The Community’.
