In a significant step for Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions, two major green energy projects are moving forward—one in the rolling hills near Muirkirk, straddling East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, and another near Eccles in Berwickshire. Both developments promise to boost the nation’s clean energy output and grid resilience, but not without sparking spirited debate about their impact on local landscapes and communities.
On December 31, 2025, East Ayrshire Council’s planning committee conditionally backed a sweeping renewable energy scheme at the Hagshaw Energy Cluster, just outside Muirkirk. According to reporting by the BBC, the proposal—submitted by Spirebush Farm Ltd, part of 3R Energy Solution Ltd—envisions a vast, mixed-use energy site: 18 wind turbines in South Lanarkshire, alongside solar panels and cutting-edge battery storage units in East Ayrshire. If fully realized, the development would generate up to 415 megawatts of renewable electricity: 130 MW from wind, 60 MW from solar, and a combined 225 MW from long- and short-duration battery storage. The site’s anticipated operational lifespan? A whopping 40 years.
Planning officers told councillors that the Hagshaw site sits within a designated energy cluster—an area already earmarked in local policy for maximizing renewable power generation. The project’s backers argue that it will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s clean energy targets and help reduce carbon emissions. Yet, as with most large-scale energy projects, the proposal hasn’t sailed through without scrutiny.
The committee heard concerns about landscape and visual impacts, especially in the southern portion of the site and from higher ground nearby. Officers concluded that, while these effects would be significant, they wouldn’t be unacceptable when weighed against the broader environmental benefits. The solar panels and battery storage units are expected to be largely hidden by the site’s natural topography and new landscaping, but the wind turbines—towering over the landscape—will be visible from a wider area. Even so, the turbines would appear alongside existing wind farms in the Hagshaw cluster, which planners say should reduce the sense of visual clutter.
Community input has been mixed. Four representations were received from three third parties, while the Muirkirk Community Council voiced its support for the proposal. However, not everyone is on board. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) lodged an objection, citing concerns about the adjacent Special Protection Area for wildlife. NatureScot’s response is still pending, and three aviation consultees have also raised technical objections.
Traffic and construction logistics dominated much of the committee’s discussion. Councillors drilled into the details of how construction traffic—especially abnormal loads—would be managed on local roads like the B743. Planning officers assured them that comprehensive traffic management plans would be in place, covering everything from vehicle routes and timing to ongoing monitoring. The committee was told that no residential properties are expected to suffer major visual impacts, and that noise levels can be kept within acceptable limits through planning conditions. Shadow flicker, a phenomenon sometimes associated with wind turbines, isn’t predicted to affect East Ayrshire homes.
Potential glare from the solar panels was acknowledged, particularly for a handful of properties and short stretches of road. However, officers said their assessment was based on worst-case scenarios and didn’t fully account for screening from vegetation, buildings, or the battery infrastructure itself. Mitigation measures—including temporary netting and long-term landscaping—are planned to address these concerns.
One crucial requirement is a legal agreement to secure a financial guarantee and fund a planning monitoring officer, ensuring the developer complies with all conditions during construction and operation. The committee ultimately agreed to recommend approval, provided the legal agreement is finalized. If not, they’ll lodge an objection. The final decision, however, rests with Scottish Ministers, who will weigh up all outstanding responses and conditions before giving the green light.
Meanwhile, in Berwickshire, another major development is making headlines. As first reported by the Northumberland Gazette, Matrix Renewables received approval from the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit in December 2024 for a 500 MW / 1 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) near Eccles. In a move that’s drawn international attention, Matrix has now signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction agreement with Tesla—Elon Musk’s electric car and energy giant—to build the facility. This marks Matrix Renewables’ first project in the UK and the first standalone BESS project of its kind in Britain.
The new battery storage plant, strategically sited between Scotland and England, will store enough energy to power thousands of homes. The site sits on key transmission corridors, which Matrix says will provide critical grid flexibility, enable greater renewable integration, and strengthen system resilience. No construction start date has been confirmed yet, but when completed, it will be one of the largest energy storage developments for both Matrix and Tesla in Europe—and, indeed, globally.
“We are delivering infrastructure at the scale required to support the UK’s transition to a clean, secure, and resilient power system,” said Sergio Arbeláez, managing director, Europe & Latam at Matrix Renewables. Tesla’s energy vice president, Mike Snyder, echoed the sentiment: “We are excited to support Matrix Renewables with their entry into the UK, bringing Tesla’s track record in the market together with Matrix Renewables’ expertise and vision. We highly value the partnership with their team and look forward to executing this landmark project together.”
Matrix has also signed a collaboration agreement with the local community council to bring new initiatives to the area, though it’s not yet clear how many jobs the project will create. The facility is designed to offer critical flexibility to the national grid, ensuring that renewable energy can be stored and dispatched precisely when needed—an essential piece of the puzzle as the UK aims for net zero emissions.
Yet, as with the Hagshaw project, not everyone is cheering. The rapid development of renewable energy projects in East Berwickshire—and near Eccles in particular—has prompted concerns about the “industrialisation” of the countryside. At a recent Scottish Borders Council planning meeting, East Berwickshire Independent councillor Donald Moffat captured the mood of many locals: “The local community is at the stage now when they think they have done their bit. I object to the loss of good quality agricultural land and we have already lost quite a few acres. The local community is fed up and they don’t think there should be any more BESS developments in their community. It’s basically industrialising our countryside.”
Despite the pushback, supporters argue that projects like these are essential for meeting the UK Government’s net zero strategy—ensuring that renewable energy can be reliably integrated into the grid and that the system remains resilient in the face of rising demand and climate uncertainty.
As Scottish Ministers prepare to make the final call on Hagshaw and construction gears up near Eccles, the nation stands at a crossroads: balancing the urgent need for clean energy with the equally pressing desire to protect cherished landscapes and rural ways of life. The choices made here will shape Scotland’s energy future—and its countryside—for decades to come.
