Plans revealed for energy plant near Kirkconnel

A LARGE scale energy production plant is set to be constructed at Lagrae near Kirkconnel over the next two years.

Proposals for a battery energy storage system have been put forward by Lagrae Battery Storage Ltd – a private company based in Selkirk.

The firm intends on installing batteries within 252 containers, a control building, communications mast (15m high), transformers, fire safety water tanks, security fencing, access tracks, and CCTV.

Battery storage systems works by converting electrical energy into chemical energy for storage, and then converting it back to electrical energy when needed.

The site lies on the south sloping flank of Kirkland Hill, one-and-a-half miles north-west of Kirkconnel village, and five miles north-west of Sanquhar.

The plans are being handled at Scottish Government level, but Dumfries and Galloway Council has been consulted on them.

The matter will be discussed at the council’s planning committee today, with recommendations from officers that councillors raise no objections to the plans.

Council papers state: “The site area is some 25.7 hectares (including access tracks) and is predominantly commercial forestry on an area of localised, gently undulating landform on the northern valley slopes with levels dropping downwards in a south-easterly direction.

“The site is accessed via the A76, along the U459N road before joining a private road, which previously served the mining operation and is consented to serve a pumped hydro scheme and windfarm in the vicinity.

“The Glenwharrie burn is located 90m to the east of the site, with several tributaries of Glenwharrie burn running through the site.

“In terms of heritage, there is one non-designated feature within the site comprising of a farmstead, quarry and rig and furrow and the site falls within the setting of the scheduled monument St Connel’s Church, which is approximately 0.9km to the north-east.”

The nearest houses are 360m, 600m, and 900m away, according to the council report.

The construction and installation period is expected to be 24 months and some earthworks would be required.

The council papers continue: “The operational life span of this development is expected to be 40 years and upon the end of the operational life, the infrastructure would be decommissioned and land restored to its previous condition.

“The proposal also contains landscaping and habitat enhancement areas comprising of the following: retention of broadleaf woodland and watercourses, retention of peripheral vegetation, new mixed species woodland, new riparian woodland, new hedgerow planting, new acid grassland habitat, new wet heath habitat, new dry heath habitat, and two attenuation ponds.”