Mybster battery storage plant close to World Heritage Site gets approval
A battery energy storage system near Mybster has been approved by Highland Council planners, despite environmental concerns being raised.
The new development sits close to the boundary of the Flow Country, which was recently designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
It will see non-permeable concrete poured over peatlands a stone’s throw from the boundary of the newly-protected area.
It comes after the council recently announced further spending on restoration projects for the protected landscape.
The scheme is the latest in an increasing number of renewable developments in Caithness and across the Highlands seeking permission to expand the green energy network.
The site in question is near Mybster and north of the Halsary wind farm, a 20-minute drive west of Wick.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are a new development in the field of renewables which allows excess energy to be stored for short periods before being sent to the grid when demand is there.
Directly south of the site is bog that is under restoration, and further south of that is the Unesco site boundary.
The area has been earmarked as a potential point of expansion for Unesco, which is looking to grow the site as more bog is restored.
Critics of the development have pointed out fire risk and environmental concerns posed by the battery technology.
The proposal was initially delayed in April because of the potential fire risk to the local area.
Kathrin Haltiner, who lives at Westerdale and runs the Highland Renewables Database, objected to the project.
“If the peat was left alone or restored it would really do something for the environment,” she said. “Whereas adding all that concrete, it’s questionable whether that can even be called sustainable in the end.”
She is also worried about the fire risk posed by the battery systems.
“Everything around it is dried out peat so the chances of it spreading is really considerable. All the peat is connected… so the fire would be in the World Heritage Site in no time.”
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss raised his concerns in the meeting but lost the vote to defer the project.
He said he felt “a stab of disappointment” as other councillors did not share his environmental concerns about the site.
“It’s progress that has come a price. We should be very careful,” he added.
Councillors are facing an increase in the number of renewable-based planning applications and have warned there is a lack of guidance to support their decision making.
Despite approving the new battery storage site, funding was recently announced supporting peatland restoration projects across the Highlands.
The amount of money going towards the restoration projects has not been revealed but council documents say typical loans can be up to £200,000.
Kathrin Haltiner said: “It’s quite a strange situation. [Highland Council] push for regeneration and protection of the peatland and on the other hand they push for more and more renewable developments.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “All relevant material planning considerations were taken into account during the assessment of the proposal.
“The site lies outwith the Unesco World Heritage Site and any connectivity/pathway has been assessed and addressed by way of suspensive planning condition requirements.”
Highland Opportunity (Investments), which is behind the plans, has also been contacted for comment.
