Wrexham: Opponents' explosion fears at planned energy site

Campaigners opposed to a planned battery energy storage site near a village have claimed it could pose a significant fire and explosion risk.

Renewable energy firm Innova plans to build it on a greenfield site near the A483 near Rhostyllen, Wrexham.

Council leader Mark Pritchard said Innova "couldn't have picked a worse location" for what is known as a Bess.

The developer said the plans had been reduced in size due to feedback and it took safety extremely seriously.

Innova's proposals are at a pre-application stage, but plans for a 1,025 megawatt site were reduced to 400 megawatts after an engagement event with the community in May.

But Mr Pritchard, who represents the Esclusham ward where the project would be located, said it was too close to the community of Rhostyllen, the schools, the A483, infrastructure and its outside settlement.

"The lithium, the fires and the explosions they've had all over the world - this should be on an industrial estate," he said.

"I'm staggered really that they've even considered this location."

The sites are considered an important part of reducing carbon emissions, by storing electricity from renewable energy sources in large lithium-ion batteries and releasing it when those sources are not generating power.

There are more than 90 smaller scale sites across the UK.

But fires and explosions have been reported around the world, including one at a site in Liverpool in 2020.

A report by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service found the incident - described as "the first" of this type in the UK - was caused by "thermal runaway" leading to a "significant blast event".

Developers are encouraged to engage with fire services early in the planning process, but this is not a statutory requirement.

Innova said it took the safety of staff and the public "extremely seriously" and it was "fully confident" in the safety of the plant.

It added it had engaged with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Regional Emergency Planning Service.

The fire service said it was aware of the discussion but was "not currently in direct contact" with Innova.

The site is named Legacy ESS after the nearby Legacy substation where Innova intends to connect to the grid.

It said it had prioritised finding brownfield sites but there were none which could meet net zero targets.

"This site meets these many requirements and is deliverable now," it said, adding that the project would be a "biodiversity net gain" and contribute £1m to the area over 50 years.

The Esclusham Campaign Group said its position was the site was "entirely the wrong location".

Olly Frankland, of Energy Storage Network, said almost three gigawatts of Bess were operational and "helping to keep the lights on".

"To decarbonise the power system we need electricity storage facilities to help balance the renewable energy that is increasingly replacing the old coal-fired and gas-fired power stations," he said.

"As with all types of infrastructure projects, it is important that electricity storage facilities carefully follow planning and fire safety guidance.

"The electricity storage industry is working closely with government to continue to develop and share best practice on fire safety and engage with all relevant stakeholders."