The Smithy (45 MW battery storage)
The Smithy is a 45 MW battery storage project in Highland, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 29 January 2025, not yet built; the record was last updated on 4 March 2025.
45 MWbattery storage
approved, not builtstatus in REPD
4 March 2025record last updated
Highlandcouncil area
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 4 January 2024 | Application submitted |
| 29 January 2025 | Planning permission granted |
| 29 January 2028 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- battery storage (stand-alone storage)
- Capacity
- 45 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 4 March 2025
- Operator or applicant
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Planning authority
- Highland
- Planning application reference
- 23/05999/FUL
- Address (REPD)
- Land 410M NE Of The Smithy Alness
- Council area (by location)
- Highland
- Time to decision
- 56 weeks
- Name in REPD
- The Smithy - Battery Storage
- REPD reference
- 14676
Who decides
| Applications | Highland | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 160 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 68 (42%) | 19% |
| Solar refused | 0 of 15 | 12% |
| Onshore wind refused | 61 of 114 | 45% |
| Battery storage refused | 7 of 31 | 16% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 52.3 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 20 / 20 | — |
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strathrory Wind Farm | wind farm | 36 | approved, not built | 6.6 |
| Torr Leathann, Ardross | battery storage | 5 | refused | 6.8 |
| Torr Leathann, Ardross Wind Farm | wind farm | 36 | refused | 6.8 |
| Drumore Cottage, Swordale | battery storage | 49.9 | approved, not built | 8.5 |
| Bendealt Wind Farm, Highland | wind farm | 9 | operational | 8.7 |
| Meall an Tuirc Wind Farm | wind farm | 17 | operational | 8.7 |
| Novar Wind Farm (Extension) | wind farm | 36.8 | operational | 8.7 |
| Coire Na Cloiche Wind Farm | wind farm | 29.9 | operational | 8.8 |
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 (57.7077, -4.2798).