Knocknagael, Essich (200 MW battery storage)
Knocknagael, Essich is a 200 MW battery storage project in Highland, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 4 February 2026, not yet built; the record was last updated on 22 June 2026. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 22 November 2024 | Application submitted |
| 4 February 2026 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 4 February 2031 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- battery storage (stand-alone storage)
- Capacity
- 200 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 22 June 2026
- Operator or applicant
- Field Energy
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00005099
- Address (REPD)
- Knocknagael, Essich
- Council area (by location)
- Highland
- Time to decision
- 63 weeks
- Name in REPD
- Knocknagael, Essich - Battery Energy Storage System
- REPD reference
- 16201
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairways Business Park | battery storage | 50 | refused | 2.8 |
| Carr Ban Wind Farm | wind farm | 23.8 | application withdrawn | 4.7 |
| Corriegarth 2 | wind farm | 67.2 | approved, not built | 5.4 |
| Highland Wind Farm | battery storage | 30 | application submitted | 5.6 |
| Wind Farm at 4.2 km west of Aviemore and 25 km south west of Inverness | wind farm | 133 | application submitted | 5.6 |
| Longman Landfill, Stadium Road | solar farm | 9.9 | application submitted | 6.9 |
| Daviot Wind Farm | wind farm | 32.5 | refused on appeal | 8.9 |
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 (57.4348, -4.2452).