Everoze provides policy guidance on grid-scale battery projects for policymakers in Scotland

October 2020

There is strong interest in many Western governments in understanding the opportunities and challenges resulting from developments in battery technology and costs.  There are benefits for energy systems, and industrial and economic policy; but there can also be downsides such as environmental and social impacts of materials sourcing and processing.  And of course any new technology like grid-scale battery projects raises concerns amongst the public which must be understood by local governments and spatial planners.

Everoze has completed a study for the Scottish Government, funded through ClimateXChange, to provide a detailed review of issues and an evidence base for grid-scale battery projects which is relevant to policymakers, including sustainability, resource constraints and recycling, the impact on electricity systems, and issues for spatial planners.  The work included interviews with a wide range of stakeholders including equipment suppliers, project developers and planning officials.  The findings were disseminated to participants and invited parties through an online workshop.

Everoze produced a briefing document, which has now been published and is available at https://www.climatexchange.org.uk/media/4283/good-practice-principles-for-grid-scale-battery-storage-october-20.pdf

Image by RES Ltd/Keith Arkins: Broxburn 20 MW battery storage project, West Lothian, constructed in 2018 to provide sub-second balancing services to National Grid