Battery storage facility plans unanimously approved in North Ayrshire

A battery storage facility linked to the grid in Kilwinning has been agreed by councillors after it was revealed that the Fire Service had been fully consulted on the plans.

Capbal (Kilwinning) Limited applied for the formation of a battery energy storage compound including means of access, erection of fencing, installation of associated infrastructure and landscaping works at Ardoch Farm.

The application sought planning permission for the development and installation of a battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure with a generating capacity of 27MW.

The site comprises a yard at the rear of an established off-road vehicle servicing/repair and land drainage business at Ardoch Farm (Kattrak/McLaughlin Drainage Services) and part of a field used for horse grazing.

The field is bounded by a minor road connecting Old Glasgow Road (B778) to Blair Road and to the southeast by the Threadmill Burn. The total area within the red line boundary is approximately 0.85 hectares, with the area to be developed around 0.6 hectares.

The site is located within a rural area comprising primarily of agricultural land and woodlands and is around 400m from the northeast edge of the built-up area of Kilwinning and around 200m southwest of Kilwinning Electricity Sub-Station.

The proposed access to the site would be taken from the existing yard at the rear of the three large sheds at Ardoch Farm. Immediately adjacent is a house that is financially involved in the proposed development.

There is a second house at Ardoch Farm, located to the northeast. To the southeast of the application site, and to the south of the Threadmill Burn, are several other houses including Burnside Cottage, Bluebell Lodge and Bannoch Cottages. The distance from the nearest non-involved houses to the proposed BESS units would be approximately 80m metres.

It is proposed to form a fenced compound for the siting of the BESS units and associated inverters, all of which would be sited on land currently within the horse grazing field, with other items of plant, including control rooms, to be sited within the existing yard.

The site plan indicates 24 standard size shipping containers arranged as double units in three rows of four with inverters placed in between. Each container would contain lithium-ion batteries and associated plant, including a fire suppression system in line with industry standards. The height of the BESS units would be 2.9m above ground level.

Other plant and infrastructure would include access tracks, an auxiliary transformer (2.1m high) storage containers (2.9m in height), low voltage feeder pillars (two metres in height), a client control room (under 4m high) , a ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) control room (6m high) and CCTV/security lights.

The compound would be securely enclosed with a close boarded timber acoustic fence, 3m high. A hedgerow and trees would be planted around the perimeter of the compound to form screening from the surrounding area. Surface water would pass through the permeable stone yard surface and drain into the Threadmill Burn,

The energy stored within the proposed batteries at the site would be connected by cable to the nearby Kilwinning Electricity Sub-Station, which is approximately 200m to the northeast.

The purpose of the development is to charge and store surplus energy from the grid.

Power would then be released back to the grid when required.

People were consulted on the plans and a public event at Kilwinning Library last June was attended by 15 people.

Councillor Cameron Inglis said: “It is good to see the fire service consulted over this one and updated.

“Even though it is a different situation from Byrehill in Kilwinning (subject of a second huge fire after this meeting took place) there is a lot of feeling on what energy is and battery storage and recycling. I welcome the Fire Service being consulted.”

Scott Davidson said: “I agree it is good to consult with the Fire Service on planning applications because of the current climate This is a completely different process from what was carried out at Byrehill on the edge of Pennyburn.”

The application was unanimously agreed.