A local campaigner, however, claimed serious environmental and safety concerns had been ignored and warned that the decision would undermine public trust in the planning process.

The determination was issued on Monday by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU).

Mey Energy Storage Ltd is now able to press ahead with the BESS on agricultural land near the Castle of Mey. The development will have a total export storage capacity of up to 300 MW, consisting of 288 containerised battery units and ancillary infrastructure.

Highland councillors had submitted an objection in April 2025 after expressing concerns over the environmental and tourism consequences. The site is close to the North Coast 500.

But the council’s north planning applications committee was re-consulted by the ECU after new information was put forward. At a meeting in September, members voted to raise no objection.

Mey Energy Storage Ltd is owned by Ampeak Energy, previously Simec Atlantis Energy, the company that operates the nearby MeyGen tidal energy project.

The consent was granted under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Ampeak Energy says it is working towards achieving financial close on Mey BESS in 2027/28, with an operational date targeted for the end of 2029, “in line with the current grid connection programme”.

Ampeak Energy’s CEO Graham Reid said: “This is another milestone for the business and a great way to start the year. Building on our experience and success at Uskmouth [a sustainable energy park in Wales] and demonstrating our ability to apply that to other projects is a testament to the team and puts us in a very good position as we continue to expand our portfolio.”

Campaigner Andy Hayton argued that the ECU had failed to give enough consideration to the combined effects of Mey BESS and other energy infrastructure projects in the surrounding area.

“This is not right, and it undermines public trust in the planning process,” Mr Hayton said. “The ECU ignored formal objections, failed to consider cumulative impacts and allowed this project to be approved despite serious environmental and safety concerns.

“Communities in Caithness will continue to hold the government accountable.”

Mr Hayton pointed out: “Mey BESS is not an isolated development. It forms part of a network of projects.

“The cumulative impacts of these on tourism, biodiversity, traffic, emergency services and landscape character have not been properly assessed by the ECU.”

He called for a full review of ECU decision-making and a public inquiry “to allow affected communities to voice their concerns before construction commences”.

In June last year Mr Hayton criticised Historic Environment Scotland for failing to do enough to protect the Castle of Mey as a “treasured national landmark” over the proposed BESS.

The ECU noted that Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council had objected, expressing concerns about visual impact, light pollution, noise and the industrialisation of the landscape.

Concept image of energy storage units, used in the Mey BESS section of the Ampeak Energy website. Picture: Petmal / iStock

Representations from members of the public mentioned fears over fire risk, impact on cultural heritage and tourism, loss of agricultural land, lack of community consultation and a threat to wildlife and habitats.

Ministers ruled that the development “will support the resilience of the electricity network through the electricity it generates and the additional technical services it can provide to the electricity system operator”. They said it “will contribute to sustainable development, providing for greater and more efficient use of renewable energy generation in the electricity system, and in this regard, it will contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction ambitions”.

They added: “On balance, it is considered that the impacts of the proposed development are acceptable in the context of its benefits, and that the proposed development is supported by relevant planning and energy policies.”

However, they found fault with the way the developer had carried out consultation. Ministers said they “wish to register their disappointment at the lack of regard for good practice and local community engagement by the company”.

The Mey Bess Action Group has more than 800 members on Facebook.