Renewable energy developments

We are seeing an increasing number of proposals for renewable energy infrastructure. This includes windfarms and solar farms, battery storage energy systems and related infrastructure such as transmission projects, pylons and overhead lines and electricity sub-stations.

There are two different application/consenting routes for energy development, depending on the type (generating or transmitting) and ‘scale’ of the energy development proposed. This can involve either submitting a planning application to us, who are responsible for making a decision or an application to the Energy Consents Unit in the Scottish Government under section 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, where we are a consultee and the ECU makes the decision on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

To help communities and others with an interest in energy development, Planning Aid Scotland has prepared a guidance note that explains the different processes involved.