RES Seeks Approval for 150-MW Westport Battery in East Ayrshire

• RES has filed plans for the 150-MW Westport battery near Coylton, aiming to bolster Scotland’s grid stability with flexible, low-carbon power storage.

British renewables developer RES has lodged a Section 36 application with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for the Westport Battery Energy Storage System, a 150-MW project earmarked for farmland between Coalhall and Ochiltree in East Ayrshire. The facility would sit close to Scottish Power’s Coylton substation, allowing it to absorb excess wind and solar power during low-demand periods and release it back to the grid when consumption peaks.

According to the planning documents, Westport would comprise rows of containerised lithium-ion battery modules, inverters and transformers spread across roughly five hectares. The design keeps every major component under 6.5 metres in height and outside any nationally designated wildlife or landscape areas, a choice RES says helps “embed the scheme sensitively in the local terrain.”

Development project manager John Hills notes that public consultations shaped a comprehensive landscaping plan, including new woodland belts and wildflower meadows to shield nearby homes while boosting biodiversity. “We have carefully assessed potential cumulative effects with other energy projects and mitigated them where appropriate,” he said after the second exhibition of the proposal.

RES estimates Westport could supply up to 300 MWh of flexible capacity—enough to power about 250 000 Scottish households for two hours—though final sizing will depend on technology selection at the procurement stage. If consent is granted, construction would last around 18 months and create 75 temporary jobs, with a small on-site team taking over operations once the plant is commissioned.

The project arrives as National Grid ESO warns that Scotland’s transmission network will need at least 6 GW of new storage and other flexibility by 2030 to handle surging offshore-wind generation. RES, which already manages more than 800 MW of battery assets in the UK and Ireland, argues that Westport can play a pivotal role in that transition by easing local grid constraints and reducing curtailment costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers.

East Ayrshire Council will now consult statutory bodies and local residents before issuing a recommendation to Scottish ministers, who have the final say on projects of this scale. A decision is expected within 12 to 15 months.