'We have a good safety record' - Miliband's assurances to residents concerned about fire risk from green-energy battery plant near Dudley
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has assured Black Country residents concerned about plans for battery farms near their homes that they have nothing to fear.
Plans for a six-and-a-half acre battery plant in Hinksford, near Dudley, were approved by South Staffordshire planners earlier this year, despite fierce protests from residents concerned about the risk of fire.
It is one of 10 similar applications submitted the authority over the past two years, as the move towards net zero will require more locations to store electricity generated by renewable energy. Two battery plants are planned for Dimmingsdale and Market Lane in Lower Penn, and a similar scheme in Wombourne has also recently been approved.
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Mr Miliband said he understood people's fears, but assured them they were completely safe and had nothing to worry about.
"There are strict, safe, health and safety rules in place for all types of projects, including batteries, and that's really important," Mr Miliband told the Express & Star during a visit to Staffordshire.
"We have a good safety record in this country, and I know that the local chief fire officer will be involved. I think we can offer people really strong reassurance that we will make sure to uphold the best standards of health and safety.
"I think we pride ourselves in Britain on having the highest standards of health and safety, that is really important. We won't compromise on that, and that's something that national government takes seriously, and I know that local fire authorities and others take really seriously. ".
Dan Levy, planning manager at Balance Power, said the Hinksford plant would play a critical role in stabilising the grid and provide power to almost 27,000 homes, storing renewable energy during peak generation and supplying it back to the grid when demand was high.
"This is vital as the UK moves toward net zero, with renewable energy becoming more significant in the national energy mix," said Mr Levy.
But the plant, which is expected to be operational by autumn next year, attracted 36 objections from members of the public, as well as Swindon Parish Council.
Concerns were also expressed about the impact on green belt land, noise, traffic and the ecological impact.
Parish councillor Gordon Fanthom voiced concerns about a devastating fire at the world's biggest battery farm, the Vistra Energy site in Moss Landing, California. The disaster led to the evacuation of 1,500 residents, and filled the air with toxic gases.
"This highlights the 'unique challenges posed by lithium-ion battery fires," he said.
