What are battery energy storage systems?

Battery Storage Systems (BESS) are most commonly lithium ion batteries and associated electronics housed in shipping containers. They store energy to be discharged at times of need. Currently private individuals lease land to energy companies for around 40yrs to allow their land to be used, and they can make a lot of money for this £1500 per MW/year, with a £10,000 signing bonus.

These energy companies buy electricity when it is cheap and store it in the batteries and then release it when the cost of electricity is high, therefore making profit. This generally correlates with surplus electricity from renewables such as wind and solar. These are not government lead projects, they are private individuals and companies who stand to make a lot of money, at the expense of those who live next to them.

The Scottish Government is aggressively promoting the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as part of its NetZero strategy. Across Scotland, hundreds of BESS projects are in the planning and development stages, with more being proposed every month.

Here in Tealing, four large-scale BESS projects are in the pipeline, with a combined storage capacity exceeding 4 GWh. If approved, our small village will become home to one of the largest battery storage sites in the world.

Government Contradictions: NetZero vs. Nature

While the government pushes for rapid industrial energy expansion, it also claims to prioritize environmental restoration. In December 2022, the Scottish Government published “Tackling the Nature Emergency – Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045,” which highlights the urgent need to restore ecosystems, improve biodiversity, and protect Scotland’s green spaces.

Yet, despite these commitments, they continue to approve large-scale industrial projects that flatten natural landscapes, replacing them with energy infrastructure rather than restoring biodiversity. This contradiction raises serious questions:

• How can Scotland tackle the nature emergency while destroying green spaces?
• Why are rural communities like Tealing being sacrificed for industrial expansion instead of being supported in rewilding efforts?
• Is there a balanced approach that prioritizes both renewable energy and biodiversity conservation?

Scotland’s Biodiversity Crisis

While energy projects push ahead, Scotland remains one of the worst-ranked countries in Europe for biodiversity.

Key Facts:

• Low Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) – Scotland’s BII is just 56%, meaning nearly half of its original biodiversity has been lost.
• Global Ranking – Scotland is in the bottom 25% of countries worldwide for biodiversity health.
• Long-term Decline – Centuries of deforestation, land use change, and industrialization have stripped Scotland of much of its natural wilderness, forests, and diverse habitats.

Instead of prioritizing land restoration and habitat conservation, the government is turning rural areas into industrial zones. BESS alone will not solve Scotland’s energy transition challenges if it comes at the cost of nature.

The Motivation Behind BESS: Profit Over the Planet

The driving force behind the development of BESS is not environmental concern but profit. Developers are motivated by the financial gains that large-scale industrial energy projects can bring, not by a commitment to protecting the environment. The push for BESS is, at its core, about securing lucrative contracts and access to land, with little regard for the long-term environmental costs. For developers, it’s about money—nothing more.

The Impact of Agricultural Changes on Scotland’s Countryside

Around 70% of Scotland is solely or partially managed for agriculture—10% arable, 20% pasture, with the rest used for rough grazing, often tied to grouse moors and red deer estates. However, profound changes in farming over the last century have significantly altered Scotland’s biodiversity and landscape.

• Mechanisation & Habitat Loss – The move from horses to machines eliminated stock ponds, valuable habitats for plants and wildlife. The consolidation of farms led to larger, less diverse fields.
• Soil & Water Quality Decline – Increased ploughing, chemical fertilisers, and livestock numbers have harmed soil health, water quality, and carbon storage, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Wildlife Decline – The loss of non-cropped habitats has caused major reductions in birds, pollinators, and grasslands:
  • Greenfinch, kestrel, and lapwing populations have dropped by over 50% since 1994.
  • Oystercatcher and rook populations have declined by 25-50%.
  • Lowland meadows have decreased by 39%.

A Better Approach: Supporting Farmers, Not Concrete Fields

Despite these challenges, many farmers are working to restore biodiversity—planting hedgerows, protecting ponds, and reintroducing wildflower margins. The government should be supporting farmers in these efforts rather than prioritizing industrial energy projects that pave over farmland.

Instead of converting arable land into battery storage sites, the government should:

• Support farmers in sustainable agriculture—balancing food production with biodiversity restoration.
• Protect agricultural land from industrial development—keeping rural communities rural.
• Invest in habitat restoration alongside energy projects, ensuring that NetZero does not come at the cost of nature.

The Future of Tealing

As more BESS projects are proposed, we must ask: Are these developments being placed responsibly? Are they prioritizing people and nature—or simply turning rural communities into industrial zones?

Stay informed, get involved, and let’s work together to ensure that Scotland’s energy transition benefits both the climate and the environment.