Renewable Energy Park application lodged
A proposal for a renewable energy park incorporating a solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) facility has now been lodged with Fife Council and the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
The developers of the project known as Nettly Burn Renewable Energy Park - Grupotec and REG Power Developments – are proposing
A solar farm on some 80 hectares of land with an installed capacity of up to 80 megawatts (MWp) of renewable energy and an operational life of up to 40 years; and
Battery storage units of up to 15MW to store electricity and discharge when it is most needed, to help balance the grid electricity network providing flexibility so that the system remains stable and runs efficiently.
The c.125-hectare site is located on land approximately 4.5km north east of Saline in Fife, adjoining the A823, opposite the Knockhill Motor Racing Circuit.
The site was carefully selected to ensure it complied with technical and environmentally sound criteria; it currently comprises rough and semi-improved grazing land.
The proposal has been lodged following a 12-month public consultation that included two public exhibitions in March and August 2024 and meetings with community councils and community representatives. The developers have also consulted with statutory bodies including NatureScot, Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. Speaking about the proposal, Justin Reid, Nettly Burn’s Project Manager, said:
“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend our public exhibitions. The feedback has helped us to shape our final proposals. We will work together with the local community to deliver a project that maximises local benefits and clean energy generation.
“The proposal will make an important contribution to Scotland’s net zero targets and in particular, the Scotland-specific target for the deployment of solar PV. As a relatively long-established technology, power can be generated from solar panels at a lower cost compared with fossil fuel alternatives - without subsidies - so helping to bring down everyone’s energy bills.”
The developers will work with the community to establish a benefit fund over the planned 40-year life of the project to be used by local people for local projects and initiatives.
Nettly Burn Renewable Energy Park will also contribute to the local economy, directly - by creating construction-related jobs - and indirectly, in the supply chain and via business rates.
Biodiversity and habitat improvements form an integral part of the proposal, to help improve biodiversity on site and to explore opportunities for peat restoration. New hedgerow planting alongside existing vegetation by the road frontage which will help to screen the development from view.
As a Section 36 project, the application will be determined by Scottish Government with Fife Council as a statutory consultee.
A digital copy of full planning application has been sent to Saline & Steelend Community Council, with paper copies available for public viewing at Oakley Community Centre, Monday to Friday (09.00-21:00); Station Road, Oakley, Dunfermline, KY12 9QF and Saline Community Centre Monday to Thursday (10:00-14:00); Main Street, Saline, Dunfermline, KY12 9TL
The application can be viewed on this website or at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00006007.
People now have until 17 March 2025 to make formal representations to Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit about the proposal.
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash