Battery storage site near city centre approved

Plans have been approved to build a new battery storage site on the outskirts of Bradford city centre.

A planning application for an energy storage site on vacant land between Valley Road and the rail line leading to Bradford Forster Square was submitted by Max Midland Road Bess last year.

The proposals will see 36 battery storage units and 18 Power Conversion System (PCS) units installed at the site.

Planning officers at Bradford Council said the site would be "industrial in nature", but "as the wider area comprises of a mixture of uses it is not considered to be an inappropriate use".

Battery energy storage sites store energy from renewables, like solar and wind, and then release it when the power is needed most.

Explaining the need for the development, the application said: "Renewable power sources such as wind and solar are heavily reliant on climatic conditions. They can be intermittent and as a result do not always supply a consistent energy source.

"As a result, there is a growing requirement for energy plants and solutions which can temporarily store energy when there is insufficient energy generation available, or to store it when there is excess generation."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planning officers at Bradford Council have now approved the works.

They said: "The site is currently undeveloped and is covered in Japanese Knotweed.

"The proposal will be industrial in nature but as the wider area comprises of a mixture of uses it is not considered to be an inappropriate use."

The batteries will be in place for 40 years, the application said.

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