Residents in Dundee say plans to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) on the site of a former gas facility are a “disaster waiting to happen”.
Residents in the Linlathen and Mid Craigie areas of the city are urging the city council to reject a planning application for a 50MW BESS development to be built near the Dighty Burn.
The land was previously used for industrial use and contained a gas holder, although SGN has confirmed it is now “redundant”.
A petition, which has gained hundreds of signatures, raises fire and flooding concerns about the site’s redevelopment.
Vital Energi, the company behind the proposals, said they are engaging with the community to try and alleviate health and safety concerns.
STV NewsWhat are battery energy storage systems?
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are designed to support the electricity grid by storing renewable forms of energy and releasing them when most needed.
They can ensure a more consistent supply of power from greener sources like solar and wind at times when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
The number of these developments is growing across the UK, with a legally binding target to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
What are the concerns?
A petition urging Dundee City Council to reject the proposals for a BESS development south of Pitkerro Road has gained hundreds of signatures.
It was started by members of the Friends of Linlathen and Mid Craigie group, who have concerns over the mix of its former use as a gas facility, its position on a floodplain and vandalism in the area.
Jayne Bond, who is a member of the group, said: “I think it’s ludicrous, to be fair, that they [the developers] think this is going to be safe. It’s okay for them, they don’t live in this area.”
“The Drumgeith Park area has always been a massive flooding area. Obviously flooding on this site, when there’s going to be lithium batteries, and with gas being here as well, that is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Another member, Kevin Phillip, told STV News: “For the emergency services, reaching this site is quite difficult.
STV News“There are no adopted roads around about it so it would be quite a lot of hard work to get to this site, to even get water on it.
“A small battery [that’s on fire] can take hours to put out, so when we’re talking about 40-odd containers over there, that’s a serious concern for the people that are close at hand.”
Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) confirmed the site is now “redundant” saying it was in a “disposal process”, and that SGN is not involved with the development or future use of the land.
What do the developers say?
STV NewsA spokeperson for Vital Energi said: “We have maintained ongoing engagement with Friends of Linlathen and Mid Craigie throughout the entire process, and will continue to do so to alleviate their concerns around health and safety.
“We are aware of the well-known flood risk at this site, which has been carefully considered in the design of the scheme.
“The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) incorporates established and proven technology, along with design techniques that have been successfully implemented at similar operational sites across the UK.”
Dundee City Council does not comment on live planning applications but a spokesperson said: “The application will be determined in the normal manner, and will have regard to the views of those who submit valid representations.”
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