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North Wales Live
04-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Giant batteries are a huge opportunity for Wales but they must not be built close to homes
The transition to greener energy is already underway and a key part of that transition will be battery storage of surplus electricity - a surplus we already have in abundance in Wales. Electricity generation by green means is already cheaper and, although Wales is the fifth largest exporter of electricity in the world (let that fact sink in for a moment), Welsh communities do not benefit as much as we would wish from that production. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are increasingly becoming an issue across our communities – and it's a rapid and largely unregulated rise. It's recognised as a vital tool to reach net zero but the rush to deliver these large-scale developments without proper scrutiny cannot go unchallenged. Let's first acknowledge their importance - BESS are a cornerstone of Wales's strategy to achieve net zero emissions and transition to a clean energy future. As the country accelerates the shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources, the importance of effective energy storage cannot be overstated. Renewables are variable — the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. BESS technology addresses this by storing excess electricity generated and releasing it when demand is high or when generation dips. This stabilises the grid, ensuring a constant and reliable energy supply regardless of fluctuations in generation. For Wales, BESS offers a practical solution to balance supply and demand and make the most of our clean energy assets. Furthermore, investing in BESS creates economic opportunities for Wales. It can stimulate job creation in green technology, engineering and innovation, while positioning the country as a leader in sustainable infrastructure. Industries dependent on heavy energy demand, such as steel, can be guaranteed reliable and cheap electricity supplies. So BESS technology is not a luxury – it's a necessity for a net-zero Wales. Clean energy and smart infrastructure must be encouraged - but a careful balance needs to be struck. Development must be guided by strong planning policy, safety standards and community engagement. The projects being proposed aren't happening on remote industrial parks. They're being planned within metres of homes, schools, and places of work. And the concerns raised by local residents are real - particularly around thermal runaway fires, which have caused serious incidents around the world. One such incident was at Moss Landing in California in January 2025. The fire destroyed approximately 80% of the batteries in the affected building and led to the evacuation of around 1,500 residents due to concerns over toxic smoke emissions. The incident raised environmental concerns, as elevated levels of heavy metals such as manganese, cobalt and nickel were detected. These contaminants pose potential risks to both the environment and public health. Here in Wales, the proposed Ynni Celyn scheme by developers NatPower in Gwyddelwern, Denbighshire is set to be one of the largest BESS sites in Europe. The development would house millions of batteries across nearly 1,000 shipping containers on a 75-acre greenfield site close to this small village. Understandably, the scale and proximity of the project to homes has sparked serious concern among local residents. A community campaign group has voiced strong objections - not only about the size and location of the facility, but also regarding the nature of the developers' engagement with the community. The community has also expressed scepticism toward the developer's reassurances on safety. Similar concerns are also being expressed about other large-scale BESS proposals in Northop, Rhostyllen and other communities across the country. The current planning system has become a free-for-all. In a new gold rush, developers are surging forward with applications that often fall far short of the safety or location assurances that communities deserve. I'm therefore calling on the Government to take back control of this space — with a strong, national framework that: Balances the interests of industry with the rights of local people. Includes clear, science-based criteria for where and how BESS can be sited. And restores public trust in the integrity of the planning system. Given the current risks, gaps in oversight and community concern, the Government must impose a moratorium on large-scale BESS projects that exceed 250MWh in capacity and are located within a kilometre of homes. This is not a call to stop clean energy, but a call to deliver it responsibly. The 250MWh threshold allows smaller, lower-risk projects to proceed and the 1km buffer mirrors new safety regulations in California, introduced after the Moss Landing incident. A moratorium gives us time to do things right. Alongside the moratorium, I'm urging the Welsh Government to launch a full, independent risk assessment into the safety and environmental impacts of large-scale BESS. The results of that assessment should shape new national planning policy. Wales must not repeat the mistakes of the past - where poorly regulated development was justified in the name of progress. Clean energy must be safe energy and climate action must be community-driven. Let's work together to build a net-zero Wales that is safe, sustainable, and worthy of the trust of our people.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thirsk battery storage plan fears over 'finest view in England'
Plans for a battery energy storage site could damage a view described as "the finest in England" by vet and author James Herriot, according to national park view from Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire was given the accolade by Alf Wight, who wrote the books that inspired TV series All Creatures Great and Small under the pen name York Moors National Park Authority has objected to plans for a battery plant on a 173-acre site at South Kilvington, near Thirsk, which it said would be visible from the viewing platform at Sutton NatPower said the scheme would play an essential role in delivering clean, secure and affordable energy. More than 360 responses from the public to a consultation about the scheme have raised objections, with four responses lodged in support of the plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Kilvington Parish Council and Thirsk Town Council have also urged North Yorkshire Council to reject the battery energy storage system an objection letter, a North York Moors National Park spokesperson said the development would be "visible at a distance of between 5 and 6km (3 to 3.7 miles) from key locations".These include the "finest view in England" viewing platform near Sutton Bank National Park Centre and the top of Whitestonecliffe above Gormire Lake, they visitor centre received 146,347 visitors in 2024, with the views over the vale being its "unique selling point," the spokesperson added."The total number of battery units proposed (1,096) across the two battery compounds, and amounting in themselves to over 30,000m2 footprint, is very substantial," the letter authority also raised concerns about possible light pollution. 'Carefully designed' NatPower's scheme includes plans for a nature recreation area with a wetland, ponds and outdoor education firm said it looked forward to working with all statutory consultees as the application progressed.A spokesperson added: "Our proposals have been carefully designed to minimise any impact on the surrounding area, including views from the North York Moors National Park.""We are committed to ensuring that our plans respect the local landscape, and we will provide further details in subsequent reserved matters applications in line with planning requirements."The planning application has not yet been decided by North Yorkshire to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Fire risk' fears over battery energy storage park
A proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) on farmland would have a "very high risk" of catching fire, campaigners have said. Green energy company NatPower has unveiled plans for the plant near East Rounton, between Northallerton and Yarm. However, members of the Against Battery Storage: East Rounton, Picton, Crathorne, West Rounton Area group said the facility would have a 27% chance of catching fire in any one year. NatPower rejected the claim and said the safety of its BESS was of "paramount importance". Battery storage systems use batteries to store electricity generated at times of low demand, with the operators selling the energy back to the National Grid at peak times. The campaign group has submitted a 33-page report objecting to the proposed facility, which would have had a capacity of about 1,000 megawatts. The group said figures on incidents at battery storage schemes around the world showed there were more than 70 fires at plants between 2018 and 2023. Campaigners also claimed the scheme contravened fire safety regulations on a number of points, including space between battery containers, the water supply to the site and access to the development. Their report concluded: "The risk of fire on a site this big is very high. "This is new technology. The rarity of BESS fires up to now is due to the rarity of BESS sites, not a lack of risk." The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the claims were rejected by NatPower, which had also submitted plans to build a similar scheme near South Kilvington, Thirsk. The company said it was engaging with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, local authority environmental health teams and other statutory bodies, "to ensure our designs meet the health and safety requirements set by local and national policy". A spokesperson said safety measures would be built into its battery design, including a fire suppression system, which would only operate in the "very unlikely" event of the batteries overheating. Campaigners are set to hold a public meeting at 19:00 GMT in Rountons Village Hall, to discuss how to fight the plans. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Battery storage site approved despite objections Plans for battery energy storage park criticised Local Democracy Reporting Service
