Caithness battery energy storage (BESS) applications approved by councillors
Two applications to build new battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Caithness were granted this week - though it was more plain sailing for one than the other.
As we reported in the Caithness Courier earlier this week separate applications came before Highland Council’s north planning applications committee on Wednesday for the developments at Forss Business and Technology Park and a farmland site south of Thurso.
For the former, Forss Energy Storage Limited sought permission to build 12 “standard” units, forming inverters, and 24 smaller units housing the batteries, with a capacity of storing up to 49.9MW of energy until it is needed by the national grid.
In the case of the latter Whirlwind Energy Storage Limited wanted to site 64 battery storage cabinets in an area councillors were told was located 2km to the south of the southern edge of Thurso, 670m west of the A9, and 360m to the south of Geiselittle Farm.
The farm, planners said, was the closest residential property to the proposed development with Geise itself 850m to the west, across the River Thurso, which is 180m to the west and below the site.
BESS sites have proven controversial in the past due to fears over the fire risk from units though they are also seen as a vital part of renewable energy infrastructure, able to store power generated by wind farms and other sources until it is needed.
In the Caithness Courier this week Councillor Matthew Reiss (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) spoke about his fears that a hypothetical blaze at a battery storage site could lead to deadly gases being released and fire crews being confronted by a “poisonous smoke cloud”.
A member of the planning committee, he had to excuse himself from discussion about the latest BESS applications because of comments that he had made previously about the technology.
When it came to discussion members were largely content to accept that, in the case of the Forss development, the technology park was a suitable site.
They were also content with measures outlined to limit light pollution generated by the development and to create a “new biodiversity habitat” in the vicinity with new planting and landscaping.
Permission was granted without opposition.
In the case of the Whirlwind scheme, however, opinion was more sharply divided.
Councillor Raymond Bremner (Wick and East Caithness) said environmental protection measures outlined as part of the proposal “allowed” him to support the application, in which he was backed by Councillor Karl Rosie (Thurso and Northwest Caithness).
Councillor Richard Gale (East Sutherland and Edderton) said he did not believe it was the right site for a development of this nature, backed by Councillor Jan McEwan (Wick and East Caithness).
An amendment proposed and seconded by them noted how the location was in “close proximity” to a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.
It also raised the “likely detrimental effect” on Atlantic Salmon using the River Thurso if there was an incident.
When it went to the vote councillors backed the application by eight votes to seven.