Eccles II Substation (500 MW battery storage)
Eccles II Substation is a 500 MW battery storage project in Scottish Borders, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: under construction since 1 January 2026; the record was last updated on 30 March 2026. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 2 May 2023 | Application submitted |
| 16 December 2024 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 1 January 2026 | Construction started |
Project details
- Technology
- battery storage (stand-alone storage)
- Capacity
- 500 MW
- Status (REPD)
- under construction
- Record last updated
- 30 March 2026
- Operator or applicant
- Matrix Renewables
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00004804
- Address (REPD)
- W/O Eccles Substation, approximately 2.3 km S/O Leitholm
- Council area (by location)
- Scottish Borders
- Time to decision
- 85 weeks
- Name in REPD
- Eccles II Substation - Battery Energy Storage System
- REPD reference
- 14058
Who decides
As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36. Scottish Government (S36) refused 18% of 334 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 127 weeks to a decision). Across all UK planning authorities 19% of 10,236 decided applications were refused.
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eccles Battery Energy Storage System | battery storage | 400 | under construction | 0.4 |
| Bishops Dal | battery storage | 150 | application submitted | 1.3 |
| Eccles Substation, Eccles | battery storage | 50 | under construction | 1.3 |
| Pittlesheugh Farm Bess, Springwells Farmhouse | battery storage | 340 | application submitted | 3.4 |
Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (55.6721, -2.3263).