Scottish Water has completed a new solar power and battery storage scheme at its wastewater pumping station in Linwood.
Nearly 2,000 ground-mounted solar panels have been installed at the site alongside 12 battery racks, allowing renewable electricity generated during the day to be stored and used when it is needed.
The solar panels are expected to generate up to 0.97GWh of electricity each year, with around 53 per cent of the power generated used directly at the pumping station.
Scottish Water says this will meet about half of the site’s overall energy demand, reduce its reliance on electricity from the national grid and cut carbon emissions by an estimated 147 tonnes each year.
Electricity generated by the panels which is not used at the site will be exported to the national grid.
The Linwood project is the third battery storage scheme to be installed at a Scottish Water site.
It has been led by the publicly owned utility’s commercial subsidiary, Scottish Water Horizons, and delivered by renewables specialist OCS.
Scottish Water Horizons Project Manager Alan Mearns said: “This project demonstrates how we are using innovative technologies, including battery storage, to get the most from renewable energy generated on site.
“By capturing and storing energy to use at strategic times, we can improve resilience, significantly reduce operational costs and carbon emissions from this site and make our operations more efficient.”
Scottish Water Operations Team Leader Jim Reid said: “Pumping stations operate around the clock to deliver essential services for local communities, so energy use is significant.
“The ability to store energy on site means we can use the renewable power generated in the most effective way and reduce our dependence on the grid, while continuing to provide a reliable service for customers.”
Photo: The new battery storage system allows renewable electricity generated at the Linwood site to be stored for later use
Photo credit: Scottish Water
Photo: Linwood is the third Scottish Water site to have a battery storage scheme installed
Photo credit: Scottish Water
New hedgerows and wildlife habitat features are also planned at the Linwood site.
The project team has worked with a local school to improve its outdoor learning and sensory garden areas, including installing new planters with sensory-friendly vegetation.
Ian Mailer, OCS Divisional Manager – Support Services, said: “This was a first-of-its-kind system for us, and it let us make the most of the site. The way we connected the solar panels and batteries meant we could fit in far more solar capacity than would normally be possible within the limits of the grid connection.”
He added: “Our teams delivered the installation through one of the toughest Scottish winters on record, staying on budget throughout. Alongside the build, we’ve valued the chance to support the local community, including working with the local school, and it’s been a genuinely collaborative project with Scottish Water Horizons from start to finish.”
The Linwood pumping station transports wastewater for treatment and operates around the clock.
The development forms part of Scottish Water’s wider investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technology as it works towards its net-zero target for 2040.