MP fears solar farm vulnerable to hostile states

Conservative MP Nick Timothy believes Sunnica Energy Farm could be a target for state-backed sabotage

BBC Nick Timothy looks at the camera as he photographed outside. He has facial hair and is wearing a grey suit with a green tie. Behind him is a red-bricked building. — Conservative MP Nick Timothy believes Sunnica Energy Farm could be a target for state-backed sabotage

An MP said he feared battery storage sites at a proposed solar farm could be vulnerable to “state-backed sabotage”.

Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, told the Defence Secretary, John Healey, the battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the Sunnica Energy Farm could pose a risk to air bases and residents in the area.

The £600m development on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border was given planning permission in July.

Sunnica said the 2,500-acre site was “designed to be secure against damage from criminal activity” and the plans received “no objection” from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Sunnica said the 2,500-acre site is designed to be secure against "criminal activity"

Sunnica A large solar panel in a green field. The panel is facing the sky which has a number of clouds in it. — Sunnica said the 2,500-acre site is designed to be secure against "criminal activity"

Timothy’s concerns come after several unidentified drones were flown in the vicinity of RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.

The drones were not considered hostile by the US Air Force.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Timothy said: “MI5 said we now face state-backed sabotage and should expect to see Russian acts of aggression here at home.

“They are on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets. We’ve seen arson, sabotage and more.”

The Conservative MP went on to claim BESS fires at similar sites had been caused by lithium battery failure leading to thermal runaway.

“This can cause explosions and the resulting fires cannot be extinguished using conventional methods... a fire at a BESS site in Liverpool took 59 hours to put out.

“The fires emit toxic fumes which means people in the vicinity must remain indoors throughout.

“So I think that the risk to the sites given the location of the Sunnica Solar Farm is quite obvious.”

Mitigate fire risk

Maria Eagle, the Minister for Defence Procurement, said the MoD did not have any concerns regarding the Sunnica Energy Farm but agreed to a meeting with Timothy.

Sunnica said the development would include fencing, CCTV cameras and lighting in “critical areas”.

It added: “It also includes measures to avoid, reduce or mitigate fire risk, secured by a requirement in our Development Consent Order.

“In deciding to give consent to our Development Consent Order, the Secretary of State confirmed our approach to safety was appropriate.

“The Ministry of Defence confirmed that they had no objection. We will continue to engage with them as the project progresses through to construction and operation.”

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