Stop Frome Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS)
The Issue
We are not anti battery energy storage sites but we are strongly opposed to sites within towns.
Trina Solar plan to site a 30mw Lithium Iron Phosphate battery energy storage site in Frome, off a small cul-de-sac, just 32 metres from houses in Styles Close.
The whole town (and possibly further afield), would be affected by an exclusion zone in the event of a fire or explosion releasing highly toxic gases, as well as potentially contaminated water courses and the River Frome, from trying to manage such a fire. Planning permission should be denied by Somerset Council on the grounds of potential impact on Health and Public Safety, together with unacceptable noise levels and loss of amenity.
Frome Town Council rejected the plans unanimously and their objections can be seen here.https://publicaccess.mendip.gov.uk/online-applications/files/538FA07A1F4DEBD391CC05FE0E7B4837/pdf/2023_1070_FUL-FROME_TOWN_COUNCIL-1322157.pdf
Their fire safety concerns arise from lack of adherence to the National Fire Chiefs Council fire safety guidance recommendations, which can be viewed here:
https://nfcc.org.uk/knowledge-base/page/3/
Grid scale battery energy storage system planning guidance for FRS09/10/2023.
The fire safety guidance is not mandatory, but has been informed by knowledge gained from previous fires, so we feel strongly that Operators should not only consider them but ensure they adhere to them. If a site is too small to implement the NFCC guidance, then our view would be the site is rendered unsuitable for the plans developed.
Nearby houses will be subject to noise pollution and Environmental Protection have flagged up their concerns regarding noise levels. Trina Solar propose a 5 metre acoustic screening fence but fail to demonstrate that the fence will do its job.
There have been over 60 fires on similar sites over the last 5 years and some of the recent ones also used Lithium Iron Phosphate technology.
Several Fire Chiefs in the UK are raising their concerns over the fire risks as related to BESS applications in their areas - W Yorks, Hampshire, Leeds, Norfolk, Hereford and Worcester. Isle of Wight and Hampshire and Merseyside.
The map shown here is based on the experience at Moorabool, Geelong in July 2021, where a BESS fire resulted in residents within an area of approximately 31 sq km being advised to ‘shelter in place’ i.e. remain indoors and bring animals indoors.
Petition Closed
The Issue
We are not anti battery energy storage sites but we are strongly opposed to sites within towns.
Trina Solar plan to site a 30mw Lithium Iron Phosphate battery energy storage site in Frome, off a small cul-de-sac, just 32 metres from houses in Styles Close.
The whole town (and possibly further afield), would be affected by an exclusion zone in the event of a fire or explosion releasing highly toxic gases, as well as potentially contaminated water courses and the River Frome, from trying to manage such a fire. Planning permission should be denied by Somerset Council on the grounds of potential impact on Health and Public Safety, together with unacceptable noise levels and loss of amenity.
Frome Town Council rejected the plans unanimously and their objections can be seen here.https://publicaccess.mendip.gov.uk/online-applications/files/538FA07A1F4DEBD391CC05FE0E7B4837/pdf/2023_1070_FUL-FROME_TOWN_COUNCIL-1322157.pdf
Their fire safety concerns arise from lack of adherence to the National Fire Chiefs Council fire safety guidance recommendations, which can be viewed here:
https://nfcc.org.uk/knowledge-base/page/3/
Grid scale battery energy storage system planning guidance for FRS09/10/2023.
The fire safety guidance is not mandatory, but has been informed by knowledge gained from previous fires, so we feel strongly that Operators should not only consider them but ensure they adhere to them. If a site is too small to implement the NFCC guidance, then our view would be the site is rendered unsuitable for the plans developed.
Nearby houses will be subject to noise pollution and Environmental Protection have flagged up their concerns regarding noise levels. Trina Solar propose a 5 metre acoustic screening fence but fail to demonstrate that the fence will do its job.
There have been over 60 fires on similar sites over the last 5 years and some of the recent ones also used Lithium Iron Phosphate technology.
Several Fire Chiefs in the UK are raising their concerns over the fire risks as related to BESS applications in their areas - W Yorks, Hampshire, Leeds, Norfolk, Hereford and Worcester. Isle of Wight and Hampshire and Merseyside.
The map shown here is based on the experience at Moorabool, Geelong in July 2021, where a BESS fire resulted in residents within an area of approximately 31 sq km being advised to ‘shelter in place’ i.e. remain indoors and bring animals indoors.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 22 August 2023