Former Lanarkshire coal mine to be turned into giant battery park

Visiting the Coalburn 1 site, first minister John Swinney said the investment would deliver a significant contribution to the growth of Scotland’s energy transition infrastructure.

“By helping to supply reliable and secure power to our homes and businesses, well-located storage systems, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, can move us closer to net zero and directly support the communities around them.”

The second phase of the Coalburn development is being built on the former Broken Cross open cast workings about four miles south of Lesmahagow.

Owner Hargreaves Services announced in 2016 that it was ending mining there along with five other sites in Scotland.

A nine turbine wind farm is being constructed on the site, with work due to begin this year on the second phase of the Coalburn 2 battery storage site.

The project is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2027.