Warnings East Lothian battery disaster could release 'flesh dissolving acid'

Former Cockenzie power station site is owned by East Lothian  Council.
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A disaster at a battery storage site could release acid that 'dissolves the flesh' across neighbouring communities, councillors have been warned.

Concerns over plans for a new Battery Energy Storage site (BESS) at Cockenzie, in East Lothian, saw calls for the council to object to it.

And fears over the impact of a fire on the site, which would be less than 100 metres from people's homes, saw some councillors back objectors amid fears not enough safeguards were in place.

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Objector Brian Hall told a meeting of East Lothian Council's planning committee the type of batteries likely to be used at the site could in a disaster lead to hydrofluoric acid being released into the community.

He said: "If the worst happens it can release acid that dissolves the flesh."

He pointed to incidents in California where fires had broken out in BESS projects.

Both Cockenzie and Port Seton, and Prestonpans, Community Councils raised objections over safety concerns.

However planning convenor Norman Hampshire said BESS was part of a 'fundamental move towards sustainable energy' and dismissed concerns about fires or its proximity to housing.

He said: "Concerns that have been raised regarding some people thinking these things have a fire risk. If you believe they have a fire risk it doesn't matter where you put them in East Lothian the impact would be on the whole of East Lothian because the wind blows in all directions so every community would be at risk.

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"I fundamentally don't believe there is a massive fire risk with these facilities. I believe the technology will continue to develop and move forward.

"I am comfortable we have a technology which is being used around the world."

The proposals for the storage facility south west of the former Cockenzie Power Station site and partly on farmland, were approved by councillors last summer.

However applications returned to the planning committee for comment after the overall site was split into separate parcels for 'administration purposes'.

Approval of the project, which is considered a national development, will be given by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) with East Lothian Council only able to comment or lodge objections.

Councillor Hampshire warned fellow members of the committee objecting would lead to a public inquiry which they would lose after initially approving the overall site and would cost money.

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However some councillors were concerned about a lack of fire safety input into the development as well as criticising the applicants for failing to involve the local community in any emergency or contingency planning.

Jamie Scott, appearing as agent for the applicant Cockenzie Storage Ltd, told the committee emergency plans were in place in the event of something going wrong at the facility and it would be monitored remotely for signs of problems.

The committee agreed by seven votes to four to back officers recommendations not to object to the plans but agreed to insist the ECU ensure the 'proposed BESS would not result in an unacceptable fire safety risk or that the matter of fire risk is competently dealt with under other legislation',

They further agreed to demand their planning officers are involved in future talks with the unit, applicants and the community to ensure their voices are heard.

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