By Federica Stefani

Copyright inverness-courier

Plans to build a battery energy storage unit in Nairn have been recommended for approval ahead of a planning commitee meeting next week.

The proposed development, seeks permission for the installation of and operation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of storing up to 30MW of electricity on land south of Blackpark House on Granny Barbours Road, including 15 Battery storage cabinets and 10 Medium Voltage (MV) Transformer Containers.

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However, concerns were raised by local community groups and Nairn River Community Council after the plans were lodged last year — one reason being that the development is one of five proposed battery units to be proposed within a two-kilometre radius, two of which have already been consented.

In February, the community council objected to the application stating that this development would be directly adjacent to the Blackpark BESS consented in December 2020 — which means that there could potentially be 44 containers in the area.

They also raised concerns of the eventuality of an incident on the facility, emergency response in this case and the impact this would have on businesses and residents in the surrounding area.

Grigorhill Business Group (GBG) also submitted an objection to the development raising “serious concerns” over fire risk and the disruption to businesses and their workforce caused by the increasing numebr of BESS applications which, according to them, “will act as a barrier to potential new businesses wanting to locate to Nairn”.

Since then Anesco, the developer for this planning application, has submitted a Fire Risk Strategy.

The reporter has recommended this proposal to be granted planning permission, stating: “It (the proposal) has the potential to play a role in addressing supply and demand peaks and troughs within the electricity transmission network by virtue of storing excess energy produced by generating stations, including from renewable sources.

“In that way, the proposal is considered to contribute to national climate change and carbon net-zero targets.

“Although industrial in appearance, the landscape the proposed development will be sitting in, has existing industrial, energy and agricultural uses surrounding it. The proposal would be well sited away from the public road and landscaping will provide screening from other locations.

“As such, the landscape and visual impacts are considered to be well within acceptable limits. Moreover, the proposal will result in appropriate biodiversity net gain.”

“It is considered that the proposal accords with NPF4 Policy 11 (Energy) and HwLDP Policy 67 (Renewable Energy Developments) in that its benefits outweigh potential harm caused by the development of the site and it will not be significantly detrimental overall.”

The South Planning Applications Commitee will meet on October 8.

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