A GROUP opposed to plans to build a battery energy storage site (BESS) in Frome is appealing for more people to join them in their fight against the proposal.
The local opposition group STOPFROMEBESS says that the plans, if approved, will affect all residents and are asking for local people to get their objections in now.
Developer Trina Solar UK Holdco Ltd submitted plans for a facility with a capacity of around 30mw at land north of Styles Close, which would sit just 50 metres from the nearest home. Residents have previously raised concerns over a potential fire risk as the facility would use lithium-iron-phosphate battery technology which, if caught fire, they say could quickly engulf nearby houses.
Sites such as the one proposed would store excess renewable energy so it can then be used for future consumption. Frome Town Council has already submitted its objections to the plans and local opposition group STOPFROMEBESS is appealing for more local people to object.
The group says, “We are calling on the 28,000 townspeople to look at the current facts and think about whether Frome wants a large BESS here for 40 years, if planning permission granted. Is this really safe? We are absolutely not against BESS but not in residential areas. 66 incidents involving these sites around the world are all there is to base theories on. Fire services throughout the UK and world are grappling with this – not the developers.
“The recent fire at the proposed site involved 40,000v overhead cables on wooden pylons exploding and took an hour for SSE to arrive and support the fire brigade who were only allowed to monitor. Much of Frome saw and heard the orange glow and fizzing explosive noises.
“Thank you to Frome Town Council for voting unanimously against the proposal. We now await the decision of Somerset County planning department. These plans will affect the whole town and should not be left to a few voices.
“64 objections are not only concerned about noise pollution and possible serious environmental pollution, but also about the likelihood of fire, explosions and toxic smoke! Professor Christensen, a leading world expert on BESS stated, ‘There will be an incident at every site in its lifetime’.
“This is a sobering thought when you realise this type of fire cannot be extinguished with water – it has to burn itself out spreading toxic fumes, hydrogen cyanide, hydrofluoric acid, being only some. All the chemicals will be washed into the brook and river Frome causing environmental disaster.
“59 hours of 114,000 litres an hour was needed at Liverpool, to keep the other battery units cool and not ignite from the ‘thermal runaway’. The swale area will never hold the volume of water required in an incident. The toxic plume could reach as far as Warminster.
“Current legislation does not require the fire and rescue services to be statutory consultees. Nor the Health and Safety Executive! The expectation is for our amazing local retained fire fighters to deal with it. The fire cannot be extinguished with water. Will fire and rescue HAZMAT from Taunton be required to attend for firefighters’ safety from the toxic fumes and possible explosions. Should we expect our town and local planners to make the decisions?
“We urge the town to get behind this campaign and register their concerns. The ‘improved plans’ which now include incident response if a fire occurs are not fit for purpose nor reflect best practice. Once commissioned the site will be unmanned. Trina Solar will have to drive from Bath to allow the emergency services access.”
To sign the petition visit www.change.org/p/stop-frome-battery-energy-storage-site-bess
You can view the plans in full by searching 2023/1070/FUL on Somerset Council’s planning portal.
