Planning Application for a Battery Storage Facility 

Southwest Environmental Limited can help with your Planning Application for a Battery Storage Facility. Please call to discuss.  

In January 2023 reports emerged that £227 million had been paid out in compensation to wind farm operators in 2022 to switch off when winds were too high, increasing 60% from the year before. This indicates that as more wind power is added to the grid following LURB onshore wind rule changes, and that greater amounts of energy storage will be required.

A Battery Storage Facility is  typically comprised of numerous containerised battery arrays. These take energy from the grid when demand is low:

• In the winter this might be taking excess power generated from wind in the middle of the night.
• In the summer this might be taking excess power from a solar during day.

It is therefore important that as we work towards net zero (and as a side effect - greater energy security) we include for more battery storage facilities.

Southwest Environmental can help with Planning Applications for your Battery Storage Facility. Typically a battery storage facility will include the following components:

• Security Fencing
• Maintenance Tracks
• Shipping Containers for Batteries
• Shipping Containers for Battery Management System
• Substations (Grid and Site)
• Workshop
• Road Junction
• . . .  a great deal of open space. . . all of the above need to be spaced to various design standards.

Visual Impact

Battery Storage Facilities will not have a large visual impact if sited on level ground. However, is located on hillsides, they may create negative visual impact. Owing to reach of views, and the required earth works.

Surface Water

Addition of maintenance tracks, and multiple shipping containers will increase run-off. It may be required that Soak Away Testing is carried out, or perhaps an attenuation system with discharge to surface water is more appropriate.

Battery Safety Management Plan (BSMP)

Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) are now much more active in the planning process. They won't sign off on a BESS project without a robust Battery Safety Management Plan (BSMP) that proves the developer has considered "Thermal Runaway."

Location

A commercial scale battery storage facility, is best sited reasonably close to large sources of power, such as large solar farms, or large wind farms. However, small facilities could be created just about anywhere so long as there is grid capacity to do so.

The below section was written by a machine.

Technical Framework: Planning for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

The transition toward a net-zero grid necessitates a significant expansion in energy storage capacity to manage the intermittency of renewable sources. Planning applications for battery storage facilities require a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating technical safety standards with environmental preservation. As wind and solar power generation increases, the role of containerized battery arrays in ensuring energy security becomes a critical component of UK sustainability strategies.

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Modern planning requirements for BESS projects have evolved, with a heightened focus on fire safety and risk management. Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) now demand detailed evidence of risk mitigation before supporting an application.

• Battery Safety Management Plan (BSMP): A comprehensive document addressing the risk of "Thermal Runaway" and outlining containment and cooling strategies.
• Technical Standards for Layout: Ensuring shipping containers, substations, and maintenance tracks meet spacing requirements to prevent cascading failure in the event of a fire.
• Fire Prevention Infrastructure: Designing dedicated water supplies and access routes for emergency services as part of the broader Fire Prevention Plan.

Environmental and Visual Impact Mitigation

While BESS facilities are essential for green energy, their industrial appearance can present challenges in rural or sensitive settings. Our assessments look to bridge the gap between grid requirements and local planning policy.

• Visual Impact Assessments: Utilizing 3D modeling to evaluate the visibility of container arrays, particularly when sited on hillsides or near public rights of way.
• Surface Water Management: Addressing the increased runoff from containers and maintenance tracks through site-specific Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
• Acoustic Environment: Modeling the noise output from inverter cooling fans and HVAC units to ensure compliance via a Noise Impact Assessment.
• Ecology and Biodiversity: Incorporating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) through strategic screening and habitat creation around the facility perimeter.

Strategic Site Selection and Integration

Optimizing the location of a battery storage facility is vital for both grid efficiency and planning success. By linking these projects with broader Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), SWEL provides a robust route to consent. With a 15-year track record and over 900 projects delivered across the UK, we offer the technical authority (IES/IAQM) required to navigate complex energy infrastructure applications.