Battery storage facility gets go-ahead in North Devon

Business park chosen as best site

A battery energy storage system has been approved at a business park in South Molton to provide low carbon and de-centralised electricity for the area.

The 200kw micro energy storage facility proposed by AMP Clean Energy will be located opposite the Mole Valley agricultral complex at Pathfields Business Park.

North Devon Council’s planning committee approved the proposal which officers said would be well-screened by boundary planting and trees.

It will import electricity from the local network when demand is low or when there are high levels of renewable energy available.

It allows excess electricity to be stored and used when low-carbon sources can’t generate enough.

The 24 square metre energy storage system (EES) must be within 50 metres of an existing substation so there are no voltage issues. Battery boxes will be about eight feet in height.

Officers said that because they are near an existing substation, the site is reasonable to house the system.

For it to be place elsewhere may result in other environmental health, amenity or other risk impacts,” they said.

“The scheme seeks to comply with the government’s aims in providing reduced energy tariffs and promoting and contributing towards the integration of renewable energy schemes,” they said.

There were no public objections to the scheme.