Concerns for Spey over battery energy storage facility by Boat of Garten
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Potential River Spey pollution concerns have been raised during a debate on plans for a battery energy storage facility by Boat of Garten.
The application already has planning consent but the operators wanted to change a condition concerning noise barriers which was described as 'minor' by Cairngorms National Park Authority planners.
Related article:
Battery energy storage facility by Boat of Garten is approved
Members of the CNPA's planning committee approved the amendment submitted by James Perkins for the facility west of East Croftmore – around one kilometres from Boat of Garten – at their latest meeting.
However, this was not before member Bill Lobban had flagged up concerns in general over the risk of battery energy storage facilities in the event of a blaze.
He told the meeting: "Whilst I appreciate this application already has planning permission I wish to draw members' attention to the serious concerns that have been raised by fire services in England regarding these battery farm applications.
"This is not the first one you will see – there will be very many coming forward in the future.
"There are serious concerns over safety should one of these battery farms go on-fire.
"A huge amount of water is need to put them out and that water then becomes a contaminant and that contaminant should be contained by a bund to prevent it from going into a watercourse.
"I'll remind you that this site is fairly close to the River Spey and having heavily contaminated effluent going into the Spey would be catastrophic.
"I think for the future we need for more information on the safety hazards involved with these battery farms applications than we have today."
CNPA chief planner Gavin Miles responded: "This is obviously emerging technology and I am sure there will be further information on how these facilities should be created and maintained possibly not through the planning system but other regulation."
He pointed out there is a fire suppression system as part of the planning conditions which means as far as the Spey is concerned 'there should not cause a problem should there be a fire'.
It states: "For the avoidance of doubt, the proposed fire suppression system should use non-toxic, inert gas, as detailed in the application supporting statement...
"To ensure that no pollution will enter the site drainage system, and to avoid an adverse effect on the integrity of the River Spey SAC (Special Conservation Area)."
Mr Lobban then said: "My purpose was just to highlight this to members and there is a large amount of information available on the internet and members should avail themselves of this."
The proposed development site covers an area of 2.45 hectares and lies within an area of improved grazing land consisting of several large open fields.
The site is located 300m to the east of East Croftmore Farm and immediately north of the existing Boat of Garten Electricity Sub Station.
There is an existing field drain which joins other agricultural drains to flow north for 225m, before meeting the River Spey.
As for the application itself, CNPA planning officer Katherine Crerar said: "This proposal presents a relatively minor change to the original proposal that will not result in adverse impacts in respect of noise or wider amenity."
