Sutherland community fights battery farm plan

Residents of a small settlement in Sutherland have opposed plans to build an electricity storage plant.

London-based Opdenergy has proposed installing a system with a capacity of up to 49.9MW on agricultural land at Clynelish, near Brory.

It will store excess energy from wind farms and hydroelectric power plants until it is needed during periods of increased electricity demand.

However, opponents argue that the area is not suitable for this type of industrial investment and express concerns about noise and safety.

Clynelish is one of a number of proposed sites in the Highlands for the construction of electricity storage systems.

Projects of up to 200MW have been proposed around Mey, Caithness and Garve, Wester Ross.

The proposed site for the 49.9 MW Forss Power Station, near Thurso, has been proposed.

Scottish League 1 football club Inverness Caledonian Thistle are behind plans to build a battery farm in Inverness.

The Clynelish burial site is situated on a vacant lot, a small piece of land used for agricultural purposes.

Nick Lindsay, a Clynelish resident and chairman of Brora’s Clyne Heritage Society, said there was a feeling among the local community that the development should be on a brownfield site, closer to larger urban areas where electricity was needed.

He said: “It is a quiet residential and farming community. It has been that way for 200 years, since the Highlands were cleared.

“It is a gentle valley, about one and a half miles inland from the sea.”

Mr Lindsay said it was proposed to build about 13 units the size of a shipping container, surrounded by fencing topped with barbed wire.

He said: “The visual impact on the local development will be huge.

“It will be like having an industrial trailer park in front of your house.”

A public meeting devoted to the plans was attended by 91 people.

Mr Lindsay said concerns were raised about the constant noise of cooling systems and the potential risk of fire at the site.

Opdenergy said the risk of fire was “low” but that safety was a priority and the facility would be equipped with “state-of-the-art fire suppression technology.”

The company added that extensive green areas with trees and hedges will reduce the negative impact on the facility’s appearance, while soundproofing measures will ensure the facility operates quietly.

A spokesman said: “The Clynelish site was chosen due to its strategic location, which is ideal for integrating renewable energy sources into the grid.

“The project will play a key role in expanding the use of renewable energy by providing reliable storage solutions, which will increase grid stability and support Scotland’s renewable energy targets.

“These objects cannot be placed anywhere.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted to Highland Council in the next few months.

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