Energy storage system plan for farmland suspended

Plans for an energy storage facility in the Norfolk countryside have been suspended following a public backlash.

Renewable Power Capital (RPC) and Elmya Energy had planned to put more than 1,000 containers on farmland at Rushall, near Diss.

The project, named Dodd's Wood, would store energy from renewable sources, including solar and wind farms, for later use.

RPC and Elmya Energy have declined to comment on the reasons behind their latest move, which follows public consultation.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) involve lithium batteries, which are housed in structures similar to shipping containers.

With a growing number of solar projects in the pipeline – including a number of "mega-farms" in Norfolk – more storage is needed for the energy they generate.

However, people in Rushall expressed concerns that the storage system on land east of Cutting's Road would pose a fire risk.

RPC and Elmya Energy said there were "common misconceptions" about the degree of risk, and the BESS would be continuously monitored to detect changes in temperature.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposals included fire-resistant barriers and containment systems.

The companies had previously sought permission to connect a new, 5,000-acre solar farm to the National Grid near Gissing.

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