Battery energy storage system (BESS) developer Root-Power has announced that it has broken ground on a new BESS project in Scotland.
The Dounreay BESS, located near Thurso, is a 34MW/68MWh BESS development located in a remote area near the coast in the Scottish Highlands. The remote location was chosen explicitly as, according to Root-Power, the area is expected to undergo a “major overhaul” in the coming years as offshore and onshore wind developments in the area begin to come online. The developers also note that its location provides convenient connection points to several of the Orkney islands.
The project has now begun construction after receiving planning permission in January of this year. The project is located near a former nuclear power station, and required significant consultations with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority before planning consent could be obtained. The Dounreay BESS is expected to go live in mid-2026, and once completed, will deliver a 14% biodiversity net gain to the area.
Dan Shore, head of delivery at Root-Power, said that the Dounreay BESS is “an important project” for Root-Power, adding that the unique challenges of developing in such a remote location are being overcome thanks to the combined efforts of local contractors and sector specialist workers.
Managing director of Root-Power, Neil Brooks, added that the company is “thrilled” to see the construction phase of the Dounreay BESS begin. Brooks added: “This progress underscores Root-Power’s commitment to take its role as a leader in the battery storage sector”.
Root-Power on the rise
Since launching last year as a specialised BESS offshoot of YLEM Energy, Root-Power has seen meteoric growth and has quickly become one of the most prolific players in the BESS sector. Last month, the developer secured planning permission for a new 50MW/100MWh BESS in Reading, the Withy Place BESS. This development was the sixth BESS for which Root-Power had secured planning permission in the space of just three months, having also received planning permission for a 30MW/60MWh BESS in Greater Manchester, the Ellen Road BESS.
In February, Root-Power announced that planning permission had been granted for a 40MW/80MWh BESS in Rotherham; just weeks before, the developer secured planning permission for the 40MW/80MWh Osgodby BESS in Selby, North Yorkshire.
The company has sought to develop an ambitious pipeline from the very beginning. In August 2024, just one month after launching, the developer appointed planning consultancy firms Lanpro, PWA Planning, RCA Regeneration, ELG Planning and Clive Fagg Planning, to accelerate the delivery of a bumper 40-project BESS pipeline.
