The UK government is under fire for failing to press adequate safety planning for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
We recently reported the government plans to introduce a cap-and-floor scheme to support the building of long-duration energy storage (LDES) infrastructure. This has directed attention to a parliamentary research briefing on BESS from April 2024. In response to concerns about safety, the government said BESS were covered by “a robust regulatory framework”.
The government is also undertaking a review of batteries regulations and, as part of this review, is considering “safety risks associated with all batteries, from Li-ion batteries to modern flow batteries and sodium-ion batteries.”
It estimates that demand for grid energy storage in BESS will rise to 10GWh by 2030 and 20GWh by 2035. In January 2024, 596 BESS recorded in the UK’s Renewable Energy Planning Database had been given planning consent and are awaiting or under construction.
Paul Christensen from consulting firm Lithiumionsafety said: “All energy storage system planning applications are assessed by local planning authorities. In my experience, planning officers know essentially nothing about the risks and hazards of lithium-ion batteries – so how can they make an informed judgement? There is no list of ‘material considerations’ to guide planning officers, nor are there are any specific policies for the siting of BESS.”
The Department of Energy Security & Net Zero told BEST: “Battery fires at storage sites are extremely rare in the UK. UK product safety laws require manufacturers to ensure products are safe before they can be placed on the market. And all products must adhere to safety regulations throughout their lifespan.”
Christensen pointed out the government does not class BESS as installations. It stated it was “in discussions with the Environment Agency”. He said: “I do not think anything has come from these discussions as yet.”
The government said in a statement: “The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires BESS designers, installers, and operators to take the necessary measures throughout all stages of a system’s construction, operation and decommissioning to ensure the health and safety of battery energy storage systems.”
Photo: Harmony Energy’s BESS in Buckinghamshire, England, was the joint largest BESS by MWh in Europe when energised last year. Harmony.
