Residents are upset about a proposed energy storage plant on greenfield land in Sutton Coldfield, fearing safety and environmental issues.
This system will use lithium batteries to store extra energy from renewable sources. It can then provide energy when demand is high and renewable sources are low.
Wiggins Hill BESS Ltd, part of RE Projects Development Ltd, wants to build this plant on a 1.25-hectare site currently used for crops. It’s just 20 meters from a National Distribution electricity pylon. If approved, the plant would operate for 40 years before restoring the land.
The site will have 280 battery cabinets, each 2.5 meters tall, providing 50 megawatts of storage. There will also be inverters, transformers, and a control building, plus parking for maintenance staff.
Concerns have been raised about the plant’s location near homes in Minworth. City councillor Ken Wood expressed worries about safety and environmental damage. He believes the plant should be built in a more remote area.
Sutton town councillor John Cooper also voiced concerns. He supports energy control but thinks the site is too close to homes. He mentioned that the fire service had not been properly consulted about safety.
Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell highlighted significant safety and environmental concerns. He warned that if a fire occurred, it might not be extinguished, posing risks to nearby residents and the environment.
Mitchell criticized the consultation process, saying residents felt left out of decisions affecting their lives. Many in Minworth feel their village is being forgotten amid industrial development.
REPD argues the plant is necessary for the UK to meet its net-zero emissions target. They claim the energy supply from renewables is unpredictable, making storage essential.
They assured that the UK has strong safety regulations for battery storage. The proposed site will use safer lithium iron phosphate batteries. They plan to implement fire detection and suppression systems to minimize risks.
The report concluded that the development is designed to respect the local landscape and includes landscaping proposals. The public consultation period for the application ends on March 20.
