BESS appeal rejected over water pollution risks — SkimNews
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- Sky UK Development appealed East Devon District Council's refusal of its battery energy storage system (BESS) near Raymond's Hill, proposing design changes to address fire and contamination risks, but the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal.
- Inspector RC Kirby ruled the proposed mitigation measures would not ensure an acceptable balance between harm and benefit, stating the project was 'not suitable for its location' due to pollution risks.
- East Devon District Council had previously rejected the BESS plans over concerns about groundwater contamination and fire response, particularly the potential for runoff from firefighting to enter local waterways.
- Devon CPRE and Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group celebrated the decision, with Dr Phil Bratby emphasizing years of warnings about hazardous materials threatening groundwater from such installations.
- The UK government notes BESS technology is vital for storing renewable energy and replacing fossil fuels, using batteries like lithium-ion to manage supply and demand imbalances in the grid.
Why it matters: The rejection halts a project meant to support renewable energy storage, underscoring that even nationally beneficial infrastructure faces local environmental hurdles when risks to water safety lack sufficient mitigation evidence. Developers now face stricter scrutiny on fire response and contamination claims.
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