Farm battery storage plan recommended for approval

More than 100 people have objected to the proposed development for land at Old Snydale, near Normanton

Proposals for a battery energy storage system (BESS) at a village farm should be approved, council officials have said.

More than 100 residents have objected to the proposed development by YLEM Energy at Old Snydale, near Normanton.

The scheme involves installing 24 containerised battery units on a one-hectare site at Cooksland Farm.

BESS facilities take in power from renewable energy sources and then release it back to the National Grid when demand is high.

The development would also include building an access road to the facility which would be capable of storing 50MW of renewable energy.

If approved, it could take up to seven years for the BESS to be completed "to allow for any technical issues that may arise during the connection process".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a total of 117 people have opposed the plan, with some stating it was "not appropriate for this village location".

Others said the facility would be too close to residential properties and cause disturbance for residents during the construction phase.

Supporters of the proposals say it is important to "embrace new technology"

Jon Trickett, the Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, and Featherstone councillor Maureen Tennant-King have also set out concerns on behalf of residents.

Ten comments of support were submitted in favour of the facility.

Supporters said it was "important to embrace new technology to help switch to renewable energy".

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicant said energy from wind and solar would be "particularly important in the zero-carbon energy mix".

"However, there can be short-term mismatches between times of generation and times of demand which increases costs and reduces effectiveness.

"Energy storage has a key role in reaching net-zero targets and in enhancing the flexibility and resilience of the electricity grid."

Recommending the scheme for approval, a report to councillors said the benefits of the proposals "on balance" outweighed any identified harms.

"Approval is recommended subject to condition and legal agreement," the report added.

The West Yorkshire Archaeological Advisory Service said a "trench of unknown age" which crosses part of the site "may be medieval or older".

The service has called for a condition to be attached to any planning consent for an archaeological evaluation to be carried out before work commences.

Councillors will consider the application at a meeting on Thursday.

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