Project Update
We want to thank everyone who contributed their valuable insights, feedback, and suggestions during the consultation phases. We held events in August 2024 and March 2025, where we received constructive feedback and had great discussions with the local community.
We have now submitted a planning application to the Scottish Government, and further details can be found below. As the Proposed Development will have a total capacity of over 50MW, it will be determined by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit (ECU) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989), with Scottish Borders Council as a statutory consultee.
We will continue to provide further updates as the project progresses. If you have any questions regarding the project, please get in contact via bowshiel@voltalia.com.
Solar capacity
Up to 165 megawatt (MW)
Battery energy capacity
Up to 80 megawatt (MW)
Project status
Planning Submitted
Operational period
Up to 40 years
Application Submitted
Voltalia has submitted a Section 36 application for Bowshiel Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to the Scottish Ministers for determination and the period of formal consultation has now started. Please send any representations directly to the Scottish Ministers following the instructions outlined within the “Application Notice”. All representations should be made from Wednesday 25 June 2025 and should be received no later than Friday 1 August 2025, although Scottish Ministers may consider representations received after this date.
The application documents are available for public inspection, free of charge under the section below titled “Application Documents”. The documents can also be viewed on the Scottish Government Energy Consents website at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00005085. A physical hard copy of the EIA Report has been made available for public inspection in person, free of charge at the locations below. For further details, please see the “Application Covering Letter” and “Application Notice”.
Location | Opening hours | Address |
Dunbar Library | Mon-Fri (excl. Wed): 9am – 5pm Wed: 10am – 5pm Sat: 10am – 1pm Please note that the library is closed from 1pm-2pm | Bleachingfield Centre, Countess Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1DX |
Cockburnspath Village Hall | There are no fixed opening times at this venue. To arrange to view the application, please contact: enquiry@copathhall.org | Callander Place, Cockburnspath, TD13 5XY |
Application Documents
Table of Contents, Glossary and Abbreviations
Volume 1: Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Volume 1 – Chapters
- Volume 1 – Chapter 1 – Introduction
- Volume 1 – Chapter 2 – Site Design and Evolution
- Volume 1 – Chapter 3 – Development Description
- Volume 1 – Chapter 4 – EIA Methodology
- Volume 1 – Chapter 5 – Policy and Legislative Context
- Volume 1 – Chapter 6 – Landscape and Visual Assessment
- Volume 1 – Chapter 7 – Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
- Volume 1 – Chapter 8 – Ecology and Nature Conservation
- Volume 1 – Chapter 9 – Water Resources and Flood Risk
- Volume 1 – Chapter 10 – Geology and Soils
- Volume 1 – Chapter 11 – Traffic and Transport
- Volume 1 – Chapter 12 – Noise and Vibration
- Volume 1 – Chapter 13 – Socioeconomics, Land Use, Tourism and Recreation
- Volume 1 – Chapter 14 – Greenhouse Gas Assessment
- Volume 1 – Chapter 15 – Other Issues
- Volume 1 – Chapter 16 – In-Combination Effects
- Volume 1 – Chapter 17 – Summary of Significant Effects
- Volume 1 – Chapter 18 – Schedule of Mitigation
Volume 2: Environmental Impact Assessment Figures
Volume 2 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 1 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 2 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 3 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 4 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Figures – Part a
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Figures – Part b
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 01
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 02
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 03
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 04
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 05
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 06
- Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Visualisation View Point 07
- Volume 2 -Chapter 7 – Cultural Heritage View Point 01
- Volume 2 – Chapter 7 – Figures – Part a
- Volume 2 – Chapter 7 – Figures – Part b
- Volume 2 – Chapter 8 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 9 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 10 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 11 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 12 – Figures
- Volume 2 – Chapter 13 – Figures
Volume 3: Environmental Impact Assessment Technical Appendices
Volume 3 – Technical Appendices
- Volume 3 – Chapter 1 – Technical Appendix 1.1 EIA Team
- Volume 3 – Chapter 3 – Technical Appendix 3.1 Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan
- Volume 3 – Chapter 3 – Technical Appendix 3.2 Outline Landscape and Biodiversity Management Plan
- Volume 3 – Chapter 4 – Technical Appendix 4.1 Scoping Report
- Volume 3 – Chapter 4 – Technical Appendix 4.2 Scoping Opinion
- Volume 3 – Chapter 6 – Technical Appendix 6.1 Methodology
- Volume 3 – Chapter 6 – Technical Appendix 6.2 Visualisation Methodology
- Volume 3 – Chapter 6 – Technical Appendix 6.3 Landscape Sensitivity
- Volume 3 – Chapter 7 – Technical Appendix 7.1 – Heritage Baseline – Part a
- Volume 3 – Chapter 7 – Technical Appendix 7.1 – Heritage Baseline – Part b
- Volume 3 – Chapter 7 – Technical Appendix 7.1 – Heritage Baseline – Part c
- Volume 3 – Chapter 7 – Technical Appendix 7.2 – Sieving Exercise
- Volume 3 – Chapter 8 – Technical Appendix 8.1 – Habitats Survey Report
- Volume 3 – Chapter 8 – Technical Appendix 8.2 Protected Species Survey Report
- Volume 3 – Chapter 8 – Technical Appendix 8.3 – Bat Survey Report
- Volume 3 – Chapter 8 – Technical Appendix 8.6 Shadow Habitat Regulations Appraisal
- Volume 3 – Chapter 9 – Technical Appendix 9.1 Outline Surface Water Drainage Strategy
- Volume 3 – Chapter 11 – Technical Appendix 11.1 Access Junction Swept Path Analysis
- Volume 3 – Chapter 11 – Technical Appendix 11.2 Construction Development Programme
- Volume 3 – Chapter 12 – Technical Appendix 12.1 Baseline Noise
- Volume 3 – Chapter 12 – Technical Appendix 12.2 Construction and Operational Noise Modelling Inputs
- Volume 3 – Chapter 13 – Technical Appendix 13.1 Baseline Data
- Volume 3 – Chapter 14 – Technical Appendix 14.1 Greenhouse Gas Assessment
- Volume 3 – Chapter 15 – Technical Appendix 15.1 Glint and Glare Report
Volume 4: Non-Technical Summary
Pre Application Consultation Report
Planning Statement
Site Location
The site covers approximately 190 hectares and is located approximately 2km south of Cockburnspath and 13km south-east of Dunbar in the Scottish Borders.
Overview of the Planning Process
Section 36 Consent
Proposals to construct, extend or operate an onshore electricity generating station with a capacity of over 50MW requires the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
As the project is proposed to generate over 50MW, it will be subject to a Section 36 consent application submission to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU). Whether to grant consent or not for the project will be determined by Scottish Ministers.
Development of renewable energy such as solar energy is vital to achieving Scotland’s ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2045 and this project would contribute to the Scottish Government target to deliver up to 6GW of solar development by 2030.
Environmental Impact Assessment
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) seeks to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of a project. As the project falls under Schedule 2 of the Electricity Works (EIA) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, an EIA is required to be submitted as part of the application submission.
As part of the project, we will be submitting an EIA Scoping Report to help define what needs to be assessed as part of the EIA and how we intend to approach the assessment. This report is then submitted to the Scottish Ministers via the ECU who will then generate an EIA Scoping Opinion, setting out their views on our proposed scope and approach. These previous steps will then inform our EIA Report, which we will prepare and submit as part of the Section 36 consent application.
Project Timeline
Below is an indicative project timeline detailing the key activities which will take place prior to the Section 36 application submission.
Public Consultation
The consultation for this project has now closed. Voltalia remains dedicated to engaging with the local community, and we appreciate the interest shown in the project. We value the feedback you’ve provided, which will play a key role in shaping the final design.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights with us. If you have any further questions or would like additional information, please feel free to reach out at bowshiel@voltalia.com.
All materials from the consultation are available for review on our consultation website.
Community Benefits
As a renewable energy developer and provider, we want each of our projects to not only help improve the global environment by reducing carbon emissions but also help to improve the local environment.
We are committed to providing environmental, social and economic benefits to the communities who host our projects and encourage communities to engage with us on their priorities and aspirations. We are proposing to establish a Community Benefit Fund for the project and are keen to work with the local community to shape the fund and focus on local priorities.
We would love to hear from local residents, groups and businesses on how the project could benefit you. If you would like to share your ideas, please contact bowshiel@voltalia.com
Community Benefit Fund
Working with Local Suppliers
Enhancing habitat for species
Educational visits to local schools and the project
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to know more about Voltalia or this project, please contact us via bowshiel@voltalia.com.
Please also get in contact via bowshiel@voltalia.com if you are getting in touch regarding:
- Media and press enquiries
- If you are a local supplier and interested in getting involved in the project
- If you are a local group with ideas or opportunities for community benefit
As a mission-driven company*, Voltalia is fully committed to its purpose to improve the global environment whilst fostering local development. All of our sites will contribute towards addressing national and local electricity needs by generating an affordable and renewable source of clean energy.
* Voltalia became a Mission-driven Company in May 2021. The company has registered in its by-laws a purpose and environmental and social objectives. Find out more on the Voltalia website.
