Conservation charity slams plans for battery storage facility in Torridge

Conservation charity Devon CPRE has lodged a strong objection to yet another battery energy storage system (BESS) proposed for the Alverdiscott area which may not even be used for at least 10 years.

The charity says ‘misleading, incorrect and unsupported statements’ must be addressed before the scheme lodged by applicant Enray SPV for land at West Webbery Farm in Woodtown near East-the-Water is determined.

Devon CPRE also says more information must be provided to substantiate specific claims relating to the total energy storage capacity and lifetime of the BESS and how frequently it is charged and discharged.

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The charity says there is no need for the proposed BESS since it would not be connected to the grid for at least 10 years, according to current data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

But in planning documents the applicant says it has secured a grid connection offer and expects to connect to the grid in 2028.

The applicant says more such energy storage systems are needed to meet climate change and net zero objectives, storing energy to meet electricity needs during prolonged periods of low output from solar and wind.

But Devon CPRE fears the Alverdiscott area is in danger of becoming part of a ‘gold rush’ as increasing renewable and energy storage schemes pop up, including a giant solar farm and battery storage system proposed for Bulworthy that would straddle two council districts.

In its objection to the East-the-Water scheme, Devon CPRE said the nearest residential property was only 100 metres away, with others in the vicinity.

Its statement said: “The property 100m to the north east lies in the prevailing wind direction. In the event of a fire/explosion leading to the release of toxic fumes and vapours the residents of this property would be in extreme danger. It is well known that smoke from a fire can travel well over 100m close to the ground.”

The plans say the facility will consist of 50 three metre high battery storage containers, transformers, inverters, switch rooms, and control rooms, together with associated access tracks, drainage infrastructure, landscaping and ancillary equipment.

Regarding safety, planning documents say in the ‘highly unlikely event of a fire’, the battery units will be ‘subject to stringent and extensive fire prevention, detection and suppression controls and systems including heat and smoke detectors and alarms with automatic aerosol fire controllers, registered in coordination with the local fire authority’.

Devon CPRE says there is a growing cluster of solar farms and battery schemes around Alverdiscott and Stony Cross and that residents say ‘enough is enough’.

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In September, the Bulworthy Solar Action Group was formed to oppose plans for the largest solar farm and BESS scheme in Devon to date.

Devon CPRE chair Steve Crowther said: “Alverdiscott has become a honeypot for investors wanting to cash in on the ‘solar and battery gold rush’. This latest proposal, if it gets approval, combined with the Bulworthy Solar Farm and BESS application that local people are already fighting, would make this a mega solar and battery site.

“The applicant claims that, because the many other renewable energy and infrastructure developments in the surrounding area are never present in the same viewpoint, the cumulative impact is very low.

“However, this ignores the fact that when travelling around the district, the plethora of installations have become a dominant feature of the landscape.”

The application will be decided by Torridge District Council in due course.