Both turbines dropped from Loch Toftingall battery storage plan
The two turbines associated with a proposed battery storage unit at the Causewaymire have been ditched by the developers.
It means the Loch Toftingall battery energy storage system will not produce any electricity if it is given the go-ahead by Highland Council.
Instead, it will be used to help balance the national grid as part of a new “smart” energy grid, according to Toftingall Wind Limited, a company formed by Boralex.
The development would be sited west of Loch Toftingall and east of the A9, to the south of Mybster, just north of the Causewaymire wind farm.
A grid of up to 52 battery units would be sited in the 1.3-hectare compound and feed the grid at times of peak demand, as well as supporting grid stabilisation by providing a solution for storing excess power at times of low demand or excess generation from renewable sources, according to a supporting document as part of the planning application.
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Construction of the development is expected to take around nine months, with the permanent site having its batteries replaced every 10 to 15 years.
The application for a battery energy storage system with a maximum output of 49.9MW including switchgear and control buildings, landscaping, fencing and ancillary infrastructure is under consideration by the local authority.