Welcome to the information page for our 49.9MW battery energy storage project near Kintore, which Conrad Energy will construct and operate.
The project will facilitate the import and export of power to the electricity grid network.
The location of the project is on land 650m to the south-west of the existing Kintore Substation, circa 2.7km southwest of Kintore and c. 0.3km west of Leylodge. Our planning application is available here on the Aberdeenshire Council planning portal.
Connecting to the available grid capacity at Kintore Substation, it will provide cost effective, flexible energy during peak electricity periods or times of system stress. Batteries also provide frequency services that help stabilise the grid network. As demand for clean electricity grows, battery storage projects like this one are vital in providing flexibility to the grid.
The location of the project is shown below or can be viewed on what3words’ interactive map here ///demand.sized.sandwich
In Scotland, the Scottish Government has an ambition to generate 50% of its’ energy consumption from renewables by 2030 and to have fully decarbonised by 2050:
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires us to act sustainably, contribute to carbon emissions reduction targets and to climate change adaptation. We are expected, along with all Scottish public bodies, to lead by example in combating climate change and making a valuable contribution towards achieving our emissions reduction targets.
Aberdeenshire Council has a target of 75% by 2030 and net zero by 2045 from the 2010/11 baseline year. Aberdeenshire Council have not declared a climate emergency but are supportive of proposals that help decarbonise.
Project key facts
- The 49.9 MW of storage of the site can meet the average electricity needs of ~115,000 homes for 4 hours (assumes 3800kwh/yr average usage per household).
- The project will consist of containerised battery storage units that are able to store power and deliver energy for up to four hours.
- The site will be approximately 2 acres subject to detailed design and incorporating mitigation and ecological enhancement.
- There is a viable grid connection next to the site with space to connect new electricity storage.
- There is an existing access track leading up to the site, so there is no need to build any new road for access.
- With suitable and sensitive design, this project can have a low impact on the local area. For example, the design of the site includes proposed tree planting and screening, with the site being significantly enhanced for local ecology and delivering Biodiversity Net Gain. This is likely to include a range of measures including ecological enhancement and benefits.
- The development is fully reversible, with an operational period of circa 35 years. The site will be fully restored to it’s existing condition on cessation of operations.
What happens next?
It’s important to us that the local community are informed of our current proposals for the site and can comment and learn more.
We held a public consultation event on Thursday 16th June 12.00-20:00 at Kintore Parish Church, Kintore Church Hall, Castlehill, Kintore, AB51 0UB
This event offered the opportunity for you to talk to the project team, see our proposals in more detail, and give us your feedback to help us shape our plans
Project timeline
September 2022
Q2 2023
Planning approved
Q3 2024
Construction work
Q2 2025
PC/Site operation
35 years
Operation lifespan
FAQs
Over the past year, we’ve seen unprecedented increases in fossil fuel prices – with spiralling costs passed onto consumers already hard hit by the rising cost of living. European gas prices soared by more than 200 per cent. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has piled even more pressure and the global situation has greatly exposed the UK and other European countries’ vulnerability with reliance on foreign imports of coal, oil and gas.
For a clean, affordable and secure energy future the UK needs more renewables at home, and more storage – and it needs them quickly.
Human made climate change is the greatest threat facing the planet and its impacts are already being felt. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. From extreme weather events such as droughts and wildfires, record breaking rainfall and flooding, to the warming oceans, climate change is having an impact on our way of life across the world and closer to home too.
In order to tackle carbon emissions, we need to transition to a low carbon and clean energy system. The UK’s climate change ambitions are amongst the highest in Europe and require us as a nation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The British Energy Security Strategy (April 2022) set a target that ‘By 2030, 95 per cent of British electricity could be low-carbon; and by 2035, we will have decarbonised our electricity system’. More renewable energy generation and battery storage is needed to meet these targets.
Battery energy storage is critical to achieving net zero in the UK and battery projects are vital in providing flexibility and services to the grid. For us all to benefit from clean energy we must be able to store and then distribute it during times of peak demand. Renewables are the cheapest new energy generating technology, as well as being quick to deploy. But if the rapid transition to renewable energy is going to be achieved, battery storage is key.
As more renewables generate our power, we need greater flexibility in the grid. The wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine so we need batteries to balance the system. Storage can help make the most of green energy, using it to manage peaks and troughs in demand and operate the electricity system as efficiently as possible – keeping costs down too. This will become more and more important as the demand for clean electricity grows. According to National Grid’s Future Energy Scenario for 2021, up to 13GW of electricity storage will be required in the UK by 2030 to support the increased installation of renewable generation.
This depends on the design of the specific site, but typically the batteries are housed in containers, which need to be installed on a level platform. These are then enclosed by fencing to maintain security. Our proposals always seek to retain any existing trees and hedgerows around the site and are designed to fit into the area sensitively. As part of the planned design, comprehensive landscaping such as tree planting or bunds help to ensure that there is minimal impact on the local area.
When we assess the feasibility of a site, we carefully look at a wide range of factors such as the local landscape, site access, ecology, connection to the grid to identify and address any potential impacts the scheme may have on the local area. We always aim for our battery energy storage schemes to have a low impact on the local area and a high impact in grid stability.
The energy storage process does not have any sound emissions associated with it. But to make sure the batteries remain at the correct temperature; a series of cooling fans are used. As part of a planning application a background noise survey would normally be conducted which would model and then assess any levels of noise.
Each application is assessed individually and where required a flood risk assessment completed to support a planning submission. This will assess whether there are any potential impacts and incorporate mitigation as necessary to ensure there is no increased flood risk from the development.
As with anything we do, safety is fundamental. In designing and selecting equipment for the site, we ensure that all safety standards and legislative requirements are met. The battery storage modules are designed to have a very low risk of failure, and an even lower risk that any failure would result in an incident. Our battery storage projects are built and operated in line with industry best practice, with multiple layers of prevention and protection systems that minimise risk. Both fire detection, monitoring and fire prevention equipment is installed in all the battery storage modules and onsite.
As part of the planning submission, we will provide details on the access route and number of predicted vehicle movements. The main impact would be during the initial phase of the construction works, when there would be a number of HGV movements. A Construction Traffic Management Plan is typically provided to support the planning process , setting out how we will manage and control vehicle movements to minimise any impact. Once operational, there will be negligible traffic movements as the site is monitored remotely with 1-2 weekly maintenance visits by a car or small van.
With all of our projects we want to make a positive contribution and enhance local ecology wherever we can. To achieve this an ecological survey is conducted to identify the conditions onsite. This informs our proposals and design. We look to incorporate a range of ecological enhancements. For example, it might include bird and bat boxes, bug hotels, tree planting and grass meadows. Local knowledge and feedback can play an important part in this.
The development is fully reversible, with an operational period of circa 35 years. The site would be fully restored to its existing condition on cessation of operations.
Tell us what you think
We’d like to hear your feedback to help us shape our plans. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Email: kintore@conradenergy.co.uk
Post: Kintore c/o Conrad Energy, Suites D&E Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY