Blackford Energy Park

The largest operational BESS in Scotland is the Zenobē Blackhillock site, which has an initial capacity of 200MW and plans to expand to a total of 300MW. There are several projects currently under construction over 300MW in the UK including Thorpe Marsh (1400MW), Monk Fryston (320MW), Coalburn (500MW), and Devilla (500MW).

A nationwide initiative, known as the connections reform, is being spearheaded by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the government. Its purpose is to regulate the construction of BESS by limiting new and existing grid connections, ensuring BESS facilities are only developed in the locations and quantities they are genuinely needed. This means that even projects with an existing planning permission may not proceed if their services are no longer required.

The site uses power connected to the grid in Scotland, where there is a high proportion of renewable generated electricity.

We know there are concerns that BESS pushes up energy prices. While it's true that BESS operators make a profit from the price difference between charging and discharging, this arbitrage activity doesn't create the price spread but instead responds to it. The price spread is caused by the underlying supply and demand dynamics of the grid. By adding a large new source of demand during low-price periods (charging) and a large new source of supply during high-price periods (discharging), BESS actually works to reduce the size of the price spread.

In essence, the more BESS sites that are connected to the grid, the more effectively they will compete with each other, which will further reduce the difference between peak and off-peak prices.

BESS also generates revenue from several other sources by providing services to the grid, including a capacity market contract.

In conclusion, the overall impact of BESS is a positive one for energy price stability and affordability. Moreover, by enabling the greater use of cheap, clean renewable energy and reducing the need for expensive fossil-fuel-based power during peak demand, BESS helps to create a more efficient and cost-effective energy system for everyone.

Whilst our project has been screened as not requiring a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we are fully committed to understanding and mitigating the wider effects of our proposal. We have conducted a comprehensive cumulative assessment that considers the combined impact of our project and other nearby developments. This assessment is included in the noise impact assessment and landscape and visual impact assessment submitted as part of our full application to ensure a complete review of the project's overall effects on the local area.

We fully appreciate the importance of preserving the local landscape. Our Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) explains in detail our approach to minimising the project's visual presence.

To effectively screen the site, we will be creating eight-meter-high earth berms around the facility. These berms will be planted with a mix of native trees and shrubs that will mature over time, integrating the site with the surrounding landscape. As the vegetation grows, it will significantly reduce the visibility of the facility from nearby roads and residences.

We have prepared a series of photomontages to show how the finished project will look from key viewpoints in the area. These visual aids provide a representation of our long-term plan for a sensitively screened and integrated facility.

The total project area is 37 acres or 16.1 hectares, equivalent to 21 football pitches. Within this would be the battery park, substation equipment, solar panels, access tracks, landscaping and planted areas.

The approximate breakdown, as detailed in the Biodiversity Gain Assessment, is:

• 6.5 hectares of battery storage, substation and associated equipment,
• 9.6 hectares of habitat creation, trees and hedgerows.

We are committed to ensuring our facility operates within acceptable noise levels and relevant standards. To address community concerns, our noise assessment has been performed against BS 4142 and is designed to meet a strict NR20 noise criterion at the nearest residential properties.

NR20 is a very low-level noise rating, comparable to the sound level in a quiet bedroom or a library. We have identified specific mitigation measures to ensure we meet this criteria, which is set out in our submitted application. Our full technical noise report is available in the 'Documents' section for a complete overview.

An emergency response plan will be written once further site specifications have been finalised. Relevant National Fire Chiefs Council guidance will be followed, emergency services will be consulted, and local residents will be informed. These elements will all be captured in the emergency response plan. Ultimately, the site has been designed so that in the exceptional event of one battery unit catching fire, it will not spread between battery units, minimising the overall impact and risk.

The composition of the batteries is still under consideration but we fully commit to using the highest quality suppliers of industrial batteries which meet or exceed all relevant UK standards and regulations. All battery suppliers are required to issue UL 9540-A test certification to demonstrate that the spread of fire between battery cells is controlled, therefore preventing the spread of thermal runaway events. The batteries being considered for this project have demonstrated extremely good results during this testing and are improving each year.

Fires involving BESS are extremely rare due to extensive risk reduction measures. In the unlikely event of a battery fire requiring suppression, fire water run-off would be contained by on-site drainage channels and collected in a detention pond. This collected water would then be manually removed by a regulated waste management company.

The safety of the local community is a top priority, and we want to provide clear information regarding the safety measures in place at the proposed site. We are committed to ensuring the highest level of safety through advanced technology, rigorous safety certification, site design and close collaboration with emergency services for the emergency response plan.

HF gas is a chemical that can be produced in the unlikely event of a battery fire. The amount of HF gas release is highly variable and depends on many factors, including the battery chemistry and specific conditions of the fire and how it is treated.

Advanced battery management systems are designed to prevent fires from ever starting; in the extremely rare occurrence that they do, the design decisions and systems implemented prevent the spread of thermal runaway between battery cells and units. Our BESS is designed with multiple layers of safety to prevent a fire from starting, contain it if it does, and protect the community.

In the event of a fire, the gas would be diluted by the atmosphere, and the separation between battery units would stop the fire spreading between containers.

While a battery fire is an extremely rare occurrence, our comprehensive safety measures are in place to address such an event. Our goal is to prevent any safety risk to the public and the environment. We are confident that the combination of our advanced technology and our partnership with local emergency services will provide a robust safety framework for the community.

The water requirement for the project will be sourced sustainably and will not impact local water courses.

As part of our application, we have commissioned both a drainage report and private water supply (PWS) assessment. The PWS assessment requires that we meet current 2024 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) guidance outlining relevant buffer zones surrounding PWS for varying excavation depths, with identified flow pathways running away from all PWS identified in close proximity to the site.

The drainage report details a robust strategy to safely contain contaminated water in a detention tank during a fire, protecting local waterways from pollution. This captured water will be professionally managed and treated off-site by a certified waste disposal company. The full design for this system will be finalised in the detailed design stage if permission is granted.

A construction traffic and environmental management plan (CTMP) will be in place to minimise impacts from vehicle deliveries. The CTMP demonstrates that the site and its surrounding highway network can overall accommodate the expected volumes and vehicle types anticipated. Furthermore, all routes through Rothienorman village are prohibited. The CTMP will continue to be updated as plans develop with the local authority and Transport Scotland. Operational disruption will be minimal.

We have a robust plan for construction traffic and personnel movement, and to minimise light pollution during construction, which Aberdeenshire Council will review and approve.

When operational, the site will be unmanned and unlit, with security lighting only used when necessary.

To minimise public inconvenience during construction, deliveries will be restricted to 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, and no deliveries on Sundays.

This proposal has been able to demonstrate that it would contribute to a biodiversity net gain over time compared to the continued use of the field for agriculture. This is through extensive tree and habitat planting and addition of hedgerows. A Biodiversity Net Gain of over 55% can be achieved, with further details of the assessment being found in the Ecology survey and reports; the biodiversity feasibility assessment; and the environmental impact assessment screening letter.

The project will be seeking consent for up-to 40 years, the installation will not be permanent. The expected arrangement is the BESS owner will be responsible for reinstating the site to its current condition, and there will be a bond with the bank and council to ensure there is the financial capital to complete the reinstatement.

At the end of its operational life, the site will be fully decommissioned and returned to its current agricultural use. Our commitment includes:

• Removal of all infrastructure: All above-ground plant and equipment, including cables and foundations, will be removed.
• No impermeable membrane: Please note that there will be no impermeable membrane left on the ground.
• Restoration of the landscape: The earth berms will be regraded to restore the original topography of the site. The topsoil, which was stored during construction, will be re-spread to allow the land to be returned to active farming.

We will work closely with the landowner and relevant authorities to ensure the restoration process is completed to the highest standard.

Blackford Energy Park remains open to any suggestions for community wealth building opportunities or initiatives. Please use the email address on this page to get in contact.

We believe in supporting the local economy. This project will create opportunities for local businesses and a local workforce during both the construction and operational phases. We will make a commitment to give preference to local companies wherever possible.

The Scottish Governments 2019 Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments was written before BESS sites were being proposed and focuses on different technologies (like onshore wind farms) that have a very different business model. We fully support the principles of community wealth building and support.

We will continue to develop our community wealth building plan in collaboration with community councillors and Aberdeenshire Council or suitable volunteers locally.