Gedling MP Michael Payne has written to Gedling Borough Council raising ‘serious concerns’ about plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) on land between Burton Joyce and Lambley.
If plans submitted by developer Grenergy are approved, a BESS site would be built on green fields at Burton Wood Farm, off Spring Lane.
A public meeting was held on Monday, January 27, organised by a local opposition group, giving residents the opportunity to raise their concerns about the safety of the site and potential environmental damage.
More than 250 objections have been submitted by members of the public to Gedling Borough Council over plans.
Now MP Payne has joined calls for plans to be rejected.
In a letter to the authority he wrote: “There appears to be no substantive justification – in the form of Very Special Circumstances – for the unacceptable impact this proposed development would have on the openness of the green belt”
“The proposed Battery Energy Storage System is not a facility for the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, it is an energy storage system. It is therefor highly questionable as to whether ‘very special circumstances’ are met by this proposed facility within the green belt, which would have an overbearing and significant impact on historic open green space and agricultural land in the immediate surrounds of Lambley village.”
He also raised concerns about flood risk, fire risk and noise pollution.
He concluded “I would implore Gedling Borough Council to seriously consider the negative impact of allowing such a development at this location.”
BESS are being built across the UK to help balance the electricity grid, which is becoming increasingly powered by renewables.
The systems hold electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind turbines and solar farms.
Developer Grenergy said that fire safety and preventing noise pollution would be at the ‘forefront of all considerations’ at the proposed site.
They also claimed the site would power 300,000 Houses per hour and save 1.77 tonnes of carbon over a 40-year period
In a statement on their website they said: “BESS sites are under frequent scrutiny regarding fire safety, due to the large quantities of lithium-ion batteries in a confined space.
“Engagement with local fire authority and planning authority with emergency response plans, fire water management strategies and fire safety management plans.
Separation distances or thermal barriers are being placed between all equipment, including the battery containers.
In response to fears around noise pollution they said: “The batteries themselves produce very little noise, however, cooling fans are required to maintain the batteries at the correct temperature emit some noise. With any planning application a detailed noise assessment is completed to ensure the plant causes no detriment to local sound levels.”
What is a battery energy storage system
Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) use batteries, for example lithium-ion batteries, to store electricity at times when supply is higher than demand. They can then later release electricity when it is needed.
What are ‘Very Special Circumstances’ when it comes to planning?
If a proposed development has the potential to ‘provide significant environmental benefits’ or ‘enhance the visual amenity of the area’, it could be considered a very special circumstance for granting planning permission in the Green Belt.
Bearing in mind the massive ( and uncontrollable) fires in electric cars / bikes and scooters, I imagine it has to be in the middle of nowhere!
Bearing in mind the uncontrollable nature of lithium fires in electric cars / scooters/ bikes, it is probably safer in the middle of nowhere!