Today’s renewable energy news includes updates from Qair, Orsted, Elements Green, among others.
Qair Advances North Scotland O&M Base for 1GW Ayre Floating Wind Project
Qair is progressing plans for a long-term operations and maintenance base to support its 1GW Ayre floating offshore wind project off east Orkney and north-east Caithness. The initiative is expected to create around 120 local jobs and strengthen regional supply chain opportunities as part of Scotland’s ScotWind programme. Project teams visited key ports including Port of Kirkwall, Gills Bay, Port of Scrabster and Port of Wick to assess infrastructure and logistics capabilities for long-term support operations. Stakeholder discussions also involved regional councils, enterprise agencies and supply chain organisations. The project highlights investment and innovation in floating offshore wind infrastructure, supporting local economic development, skilled employment, energy security, and Scotland’s transition toward large-scale renewable energy generation in the early 2030s.
Orsted Acquires 150MW Salzburg Battery Storage Project in Michigan
Orsted has acquired the 150MW Salzburg battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Michigan from developer ESA Solar Energy, expanding its growing US energy storage portfolio. The project, located in Midland Township, is targeting commercial operations between 2029 and 2030. The Salzburg project is designed as a standalone 150MW/600MWh battery storage facility capable of delivering peak shaving, load shifting and grid reliability services. The system will connect directly to Michigan’s transmission network through a dedicated substation and is expected to support the state’s clean energy goals, including a 100 percent clean electricity target by 2040. The acquisition highlights continued investment and innovation in large-scale energy storage infrastructure, strengthening renewable integration, improving grid resilience, and supporting long-term energy security as electricity demand rises across the US.
Elements Green Acquires 300MW Newarthill Battery Storage Project in Scotland
Elements Green has acquired the 300MW Newarthill battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Scotland from Geocore, strengthening its UK energy storage pipeline. The transmission-connected project, located near Motherwell, is planned as a two-hour duration facility with potential expansion to four hours and is targeting energisation by October 2029. The project received planning consent in February 2025 and will connect through a nearby 275kV substation under a grid offer secured from the UK’s National Energy System Operator. The strategic location around the B6 and B4 transmission boundaries is expected to help reduce network congestion and support greater renewable energy integration across Scotland and the wider UK grid. The acquisition highlights growing investment and innovation in long-duration battery storage infrastructure, improving grid flexibility, energy security, and system stability as renewable electricity generation continues to expand.
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