THE Staffordshire Commissioner has called for the fire service to play a bigger role in plans for energy storage sites – and has asked for more Government support to deal with incidents that may arise at them.
Planning applications for such facilities – along with solar farms – have been coming forward for locations across Staffordshire in recent months, sparking safety fears for residents living near potential sites.
They include a recently-approved battery energy storage system (BESS) in Hammerwich.
A performance meeting heard that senior firefighters in Staffordshire are being trained on how to manage incidents involving the systems.
The topic prompted a question from Staffordshire County Council member Cllr Anthony Screen. He said:
“Considering the large amount of solar farm and battery planning applications going through here in Staffordshire, what training is currently being carried out by the fire and rescue service to address the unique hazards presented by energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium ion batteries?
“Also, what contributions are the service required to make during the planning application process?
“How many practical on-site drills at battery storage facilities are being done by the fire and rescue service to help them prepare for any major incidents at battery storage facilities?”
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams responded:
“There is continual national interest in this and considerable local interest. I have attended a number of public meetings myself – probably the biggest correspondence matter for me relating to fire at the moment is around solar energy generation and battery storage.
“My view is the fire and rescue service would benefit, in terms of public confidence, if they were involved in the consultation around every application.
“Providing they have access and egress, providing the spacing of every unit is appropriate and the latest technologies are deployed and they have access to the materials they need to deal with any incidents should they arise, then they are inherently safe.
“It’s for the planning authorities in each district and borough to determine whether those rules are being adhered to. The national guidance from the National Fire Chiefs’ Council is that developers would reach out to fire and rescue services, seek assurance that their proposals are fully compliant.
“I believe that happens in the majority of cases – not all – and if any companies are looking to invest in this way I think they should take that opportunity to discuss it with the fire and rescue teams.
“The issue is there are so many of these at the moment. My understanding is there are more applications than are needed to meet the needs of national net zero ambitions.”
Commissioner Adams called for fire services to be “properly resourced” to be able to respond to BESS application consultations.
He said:
“It could take considerable hours of professional time to respond to every application. At the moment that is not something the service has got, so they are working as best they can with restricted means.
“My ask would be include fire and rescue in consultation, primarily to offer assurance and confidence to to the public, but for the Government to fund that extra commitment.
“I have wider concerns as well. These are typically being proposed for greenfield sites or even Green Belt. I think there is a risk that 20 or 30 years down the line and when they are end of life that those sites are considered to be brownfield and on that basis we are looking at encroachment into our rural countryside, which is not something I would support as a wider principle.
“It’s something very much on my agenda and I am staying close to the public on it. However, please do not believe everything you read about incidents in other countries with old technology – this is inherently safe technology providing it is properly managed and properly approved.”
