Apatura, meanwhile, has just received planning permission for a new BESS project. This accomplishment represents a key step toward the corporation’s continued growth and diversification within the renewable energy industry. After a determined lobbying effort by Orkney, the Scottish government’s Energy Consents Unit subsequently approved the project. It will be situated just over half a mile north-east of Kilwinning, across eight acres of land east of Old Glasgow Road.
This latest approval represents Apatura’s tenth successful BESS planning consent since January 2024, demonstrating the company’s commitment to contributing to Scotland’s energy landscape. The project fits with the Scottish government’s goal of having 50% of Scotland’s total energy needs met by renewables.
The Kilwinning BESS project is helping Great Britain to lay the foundations of a net-zero energy system by 2045. It will play a vital part in helping the UK make the changeover to renewable forms of energy. This news is a positive step to ensure energy resilience across the whole of the UK. Furthermore, it will provide essential flexibility to the electrical grid at times of peak demand or when renewable generation is temporarily reduced.
In February 2025, Apatura won planning permission for a significantly larger 400MW BESS close to Stirling, Scotland. This milestone makes Apatura the gold standard in advanced energy storage solutions. The Kilwinning project takes advantage of this momentum. Most importantly, it helps make our national grid more stable and reliable.
Andrew Philpott, a representative from Apatura, emphasized the importance of such developments:
“BESS sites like the Kilwinning development are integral for enabling Scotland and the UK to achieve their net-zero targets. Not only does battery storage help manage our renewable energy supply and demand, it also helps bolster the stability of our national grid and boost local economies as well.”
The Scottish government’s Energy Consents Unit praised the project’s positive impacts on the country’s electricity network. It’ll increase resilience not only with its ability to generate electricity from many sources but because it’ll provide essential technical services to the electricity system operator. They stated:
“Once operational, the project will provide essential flexibility to the grid, storing excess renewable energy for use when it’s needed most.”