‘Europe’s largest battery farm’ built on coal mine

Construction of what has been described as Europe’s largest battery storage project is underway in Colburn, South Lanarkshire.

Developers say two huge neighboring battery farms – on the site of a former opencast coal mine – will store enough electricity to power three million homes.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being built across the UK to help balance the electricity grid, which is increasingly powered by renewable energy.

According to Scottish Government figures, almost 90% of electricity produced in Scotland last year was from low-carbon sources such as wind, solar or nuclear.

To help balance the peaks and troughs of renewable energy, National Grid estimates that the UK will need to increase BESS provision almost sixfold by the end of the decade.

A one gigawatt facility is being constructed in two phases in Colburn.

It will be charged using excess electricity from wind farms, with electricity being discharged when demand is high or renewable generation is low.

The huge batteries will last up to two hours at a time before draining out.

Work on the first phase began in November 2023 and is scheduled to be operational later this year.

The developers – Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) – have confirmed that construction on phase two will begin soon.

CIP’s Nischal Agarwal said the projects will enhance the energy security of the country.

He said it would support the UK’s pursuit of a clean energy system by 2030 and deliver a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

With the final investment decision for the Colburn 2 site, CIP has also confirmed that work will start soon on a similar sized battery farm near Kincardine in Fife.

The Davila site will take the company’s storage capacity to 1.5GW.

Visiting the Colburn 1 site, First Minister John Swinney said the investment would make a significant contribution to the development of Scotland’s energy transition infrastructure.

“By helping to supply our homes and businesses with reliable and safe electricity, well-located storage systems, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, can move us closer to net zero and directly support the communities around them. Can.”

The second phase of the Colburn development is being built on the former Broken Cross open cast workings, about four miles south of Lesmahagow.

Owner Hargreaves Services announced in 2016 that it was ceasing mining there, along with five other sites in Scotland.

A nine turbine wind farm is being built on the site, with work on the second phase of the Colburn 2 battery storage site due to start this year.

The project is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2027.