Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Brant Energy Storage [NatPower] have submitted an application to build an industrial energy storage system approximitly 500 meters from Coleby.
Application number: 25/0533/FUL
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BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS)
HILL RISE COLEBY
MEETING FOR RESIDENTS
AT THE VILLAGE HALL RECTORY ROAD COLEBY
ON WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE AT 7.30PM
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ON THE CURRENT PLANNING APPLICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS ON 22ND JUNE 2025.APPLICATION
Planning application ref:25/0533/Ful
A Few Facts
Carbon Footprint
Based on Brant Energy Figues:
The proposed BESS would create around (15.8 million) 15,800,000 tonnes COâ‚‚e, Over its lifespan with battery replacements, using current industry-average emission factors. The majority of these emissions are from battery manufacturing, with construction and operational emissions being less, though there are futher emissions with decommisioning and other processes.
How Many Trees Would You Need To Offset the Carbon?
A Rough Calculation using 25 kg of COâ‚‚ per tree per year over its lifetime:
You would need to plant approximately 632,000,000 Six hundred and thirty two million, trees to offset 15,800,000 tonnes of COâ‚‚e, assuming each tree absorbs 25 kg of COâ‚‚ per year over its lifetime [Though beech trees when mature only absorb around 16 kg of COâ‚‚, so the number of trees would be higher depending on the type planted] You would need an area the size of Dorset to be able plant them.
Calculation
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1 tonne = 1,000 kg
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15,800,000 tonnes = 15,800,000 × 1,000 = 15,800,000,000 kg COâ‚‚
Number of trees needed = Total COâ‚‚ to offset / COâ‚‚ absorbed per tree per year
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15,800,000,000 kg
25 kg/tree/year = 632,000,000 trees
Potential of House Price Depreciation
Based on Brant Energy Figues:
A resident of Coleby has commissioned an appraisal of their property, the assessment already without planning consent is that the value of their house has reduced 10-20%
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Losing 10–20% of your house value can have significant financial and practical consequences:
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Reduced Equity: If your property value drops by 10–20%, your home equity (the difference between your mortgage and the property’s value) shrinks. Which could push some into negative equity
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Negative Equity Risks: In negative equity, selling your home becomes difficult without covering the shortfall from your own savings. Remortgaging or moving can also be challenging
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Difficulty Selling: A lower valuation can limit your pool of buyers, especially if mortgage lenders down-value your property. Sellers often have to accept lower offers
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Wealth Impact: For many, their home is their largest asset. A 10–20% loss can mean a substantial reduction in personal wealth, potentially affecting retirement plans or the ability to fund other investments.
Health Risks
Potential for Thermal Runaway and the impact of constant low level noise:
A BESS thermal runaway event releases a mixture of flammable and toxic gases, primarily Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Hydrogen Cyanide, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Ammonia, and various volatile organic compounds. These pose severe risks to health, safety, and the environment during and after a fire.
Large-scale BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) sites typically produce noise levels between 70 and 92 decibels (dBA) measured at 1 meter from the equipment, with the main sources being cooling system fans, inverters, and transformers. The long term effects of constant low level noise can have a negative impact on health, which has been reported by other communities that have been impacted in similar ways; Battery farm plans will worsen 'mystery hum' impact
Planning Considerations
1
Significantly Adverse impact on designated Area of Great Lanscape Value.
2
Significantly Adverse impact on the Coleby Village Conservation Area and setting of important Heritage Assets situated within relevant close proximity.
3
Unacceptable Traffic Impact Assessment issues, both during construction and operation.
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High Degree of Health & Safety Risks, together with adverse impact on overall Wellbeing, as arising from potential noise and fumes, as well as operational risks from fire and other such ‘high alert’ incidents.
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Environmental issues associated with High Water Table and rising water permeation.
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Ecological issues arising from overall scale of development in ‘greenfield’ open countryside location.
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Likely level of associated major infrastructure works in an inappropriate rural setting.
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The aggregate high level of ‘harm’ to matters of acknowledged importance when considered against any ‘need’ for the Development, as relevant to the overall ‘planning balance’ for a Planning Application of this nature.
Who are NatPower?
"NatPower is an independent developer of infrastructural projects for renewable energy generation, providing support to enterprises, utilities, and investors globally.
The company was founded in 2019 by experienced entrepreneurs in the global green sector, boasts a team with 25 years of expertise, and in just a few years has earned a reputation as one of the most prominent independent developers, actively operating in seven different countries: Italy, UK, Kazakhstan, US, Canada.
The company manages its operations from four main offices located in Luxembourg, Milan (Italy), London (UK), Washington, D.C. (US) and Almaty (Kazakhstan). With about 80 people across three continents NatPower has one of the largest green project pipelines in the world. totalling more than 24 GW - and is driving the energy transition process across all major technologies, including solar, wind, battery energy storage and hydrogen."
BESS Fire Risk
Thermal Runaway
Globally, the number of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) fire incidents averages between 1 and 2 per month, based on the most current and authoritative datasets available
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Global BESS Fire Incident Rates
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Metric​
Global BESS Fire Incidents
Average Per Month
Trend
Value (Recent Years​)
4-16 Per Year​
1-2​
Rising In Absolute Numbers, But Falling Per GW Deployed​
Please click on the images below and watch the videos​
For scale, the potential 1600 containers:
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Each container: is about 40 feet (12.2 m) long × 8.5 feet (2.6 m) wide × 9.5 feet (2.9 m) high
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If placed end-to-end would stretch: 64,000 feet 19,507 meters or about 12.1 miles/19.5 km long!
