Smeaton Battery Energy Storage System (228 MW)
Smeaton Battery Energy Storage System is a 228 MW battery storage project in East Lothian, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 29 August 2024, not yet built; the record was last updated on 7 October 2024. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 21 March 2023 | Application submitted |
| 29 August 2024 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 29 August 2027 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- battery storage (stand-alone storage)
- Capacity
- 228 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 7 October 2024
- Operator or applicant
- Kona Energy
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00004783
- Address (REPD)
- Smeaton, Whitecraig, East Lothian,
- Council area (by location)
- East Lothian
- Time to decision
- 75 weeks
- REPD reference
- 13627
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salters Battery Energy Storage System | battery storage | 200 | approved, not built | 2.3 |
| Dolphingstone Farm | battery storage | 63 | approved, not built | 4.5 |
| Cockenzie Battery Storage System - Site B | battery storage | 102 | approved, not built | 7.6 |
| Cockenzie Battery Storage System - Site A | battery storage | 240 | approved, not built | 7.6 |
| Existing Kaimes Substation, Old Burdiehouse Road | battery storage | 49.9 | application submitted | 8.1 |
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 (55.9132, -3.0361).