Battery Energy Storage Facility

Pre- Application Consultation Process

A 50MW Battery energy Storage facility is proposed between the recycling centre at Lochar Moss and the A75. Flexon Energy is undertaking a consultation prior to making formal application to Dumfries and Galloway Council. There has already been a meeting in Torthorwald but the meeting in Collin Village Hall has been cancelled. The energy produced from wind and solar is produced in peaks and roughs depending on the weather. At present the UK only just produces enough to meet demand there is no spare capacity. However, demand also moves in peaks and troughs and with the advent of electric vehicles, ebikes and other equipment, demand is likely to increase. Therefore we need increased generation or some means of storage. There is a small risk with Lithium - ion battery storage but the nature of the risk is substantial. Occasionally the batteries overheat and catch fire. These are chemical fires and are extremely difficult to extinguish using the present methods available to fire fighters. Li-on battery fires also explode placing fire crews and nearby properties/road users in danger. For this reason fire chiefs across the UK, and elsewhere, recommend that battery installations should be placed in isolated areas well away from property and trunk roads. When explosions occur after the fire crew arrive there is an obvious danger of serious injury. At the moment the Fire & Rescue Service is not a statutory consultee in BESS applications so the companies don’t have to ask their opinion or even notify them.