Residents fear fires from battery storage sites

Residents living near proposed battery energy storage systems (BESS) say they fear massive fires and environmental pollution.

BESSs are being built across the UK to help balance the electricity grid, which is becoming increasingly powered by renewables.

But there are no laws that specifically govern the safety of BESSs, and people living near proposed sites in South Hetton, County Durham, have voiced concerns.

Some experts are calling for a pause in their deployment until Health and Safety regulations are established. The government said it had "high safety standards in place for the industry".

BESSs are made up of huge numbers of lithium-ion batteries inside metal containers.

When there is excess renewable energy in the grid, the batteries store the energy, then release it back into the grid when needed.

According to a government database, there is one BESS site already operational on Tyneside and at least 40 BESS sites in the planning or construction stage in the North East.

However, the database is not fully up to date.

South Hetton is home to an electricity substation, which makes it a prime location for a BESS.

Residents said planning applications had been submitted for seven sites around the village.

For Lisa Miller, who lives 300m (965ft) away from one proposed site called West Lane BESS, fire safety is her biggest concern.

"These things can burn for days," she said.

The government maintains battery storage fires are rare in the UK

Mrs Miller said she was also worried about toxic gases and respiratory issues.

She has set up a national petition to push for safety legislation and to keep BESS sites off agricultural land.

She said it was "an absolute lie to say that this is going to benefit the environment".

Ian Atkinson moved to the village because the quiet location was suitable for his autistic son, who suffers heightened sensory issues.

Mr Atkinson said if the West Lane site was approved, it would have "a significant impact" on his son's well-being, and ultimately his family.

"This was supposed to be our forever home."

Another resident, Becky Wood, called it "a monstrosity".

"They're using agricultural land to put something that is ugly and industrious on our doorstep."

The company planning the West Lane BESS site, Rewe 8 Ltd, did not respond to requests for comment, but the project website says BESS sites "play a crucial role in decarbonising our national grid and are identified through government policy as critical national infrastructure".

Retired Oxford University engineering science professor Peter Dobson has warned BESSs could become the next legacy fire safety issue, with major risks to the public.

"The energy stored in one container is the equivalent of three tonnes of TNT," he said.

"As soon as the thing goes critical and starts burning or exploding, you've got all the chemical potential of those volatile liquids in the batteries."

Fires can start in lithium batteries if they overheat or are damaged, and lithium is difficult to extinguish, he said.

Prof Dobson said it would be like "putting a chemical refinery right next door to somebody's house".

"I think it's irresponsible and crazy."

He has called on the government to halt all BESS installations until mandatory safety regulations were in place.

In England and Wales, decisions on BESSs are made by local planning authorities.

Durham County Council declared its own climate emergency in 2019, and introduced ambitious carbon-neutral targets. It has since said it is reviewing its net zero commitments under new leadership.

Council planning manager Stephen Reed said: "In each application for a battery storage site, we consider any potential safety risks, as well as the broad support for such proposals in national planning policies."

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: "We have high safety standards in place that require manufacturers and industry to ensure batteries are safe throughout their lifespan."

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