Lower Bodachra (72 MW solar farm)
Lower Bodachra is a 72 MW solar farm project in Aberdeen City, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 24 June 2025, not yet built; the record was last updated on 20 February 2026. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 10 September 2024 | Application submitted |
| 24 June 2025 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 24 June 2028 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 72 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 20 February 2026
- Operator or applicant
- Novus Renewables Services Limited
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00004848
- Site area
- 93.6 ha
- Address (REPD)
- Lower Bodachra, Whitestripes Road, Dyce
- Council area (by location)
- Aberdeen City
- Time to decision
- 41 weeks
- Contracts for Difference
- AR7a
- Name in REPD
- Lower Bodachra - Solar Panels
- REPD reference
- 14301
The scheme also includes 45 MW of battery storage, recorded separately in REPD (approved, not built).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryburn Farm, Dyce | battery storage | 49.9 | refused | 1.1 |
| Farburn Place | battery storage | 30 | under construction | 2.1 |
| Persley Croft | battery storage | 49.9 | approved, not built | 2.8 |
| Dyce Energy Storage, Raiths Industrial Estate Battery Facility | battery storage | 50 | operational | 3.0 |
| Persley BESS | battery storage | 70 | approved, not built | 3.0 |
| Middleton Of Potterton Farm | battery storage | 49.9 | approved, not built | 3.7 |
| Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub Facility | solar farm | 8 | abandoned | 5.6 |
| A981 Fraserburgh | battery storage | 25 | approved, not built | 7.3 |
| Newton Of Pitfodels | battery storage | 40 | approved, not built | 8.6 |
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 (57.2057, -2.1565).