Group confirms battery storage position

MOFFAT and District Community Council will object to any plans to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) at Barnhill Lane.

Members confirmed their position on the proposals by Conrad Energy this week following more than 40 comments received from concerned members of the community.

The energy company want to construct a 500 megawatt BESS unit on a 16 acre site situated one kilometre to the east of Beattock.

The facility would enable energy from renewables to be stored and later released when needed.

MDCC secretary Mick Barker gave a presentation to those in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. He explained background information and even presented a slide which made a case for the facility. However, the negatives seemed to outweigh the positives in the presentation with a number of economic issues, practical risks and fire hazards being raised.

Mick said: “There is no planning application, yet, from Conrad into the Energy Consents Unit. We are debating this before the start of what would be a lengthy process.

“There will be layers of depth and detail that we haven’t touched on here today around the arguments for and against this particular development.

“I’ve tried to draft a resolution for the community council that I think will give us a position for now.

“We’ve had 45 or so well argued and detailed comments from the community.

“I’m keen that we get a position now that kicks us off, in a direction that reflects what we’re hearing from the community. Because, there’s a lot to come over potentially years regarding this.”

Chairman Liam O’Neill said: “We have received objections from a number of members of the community. There are a lot considering it has not been put forward as a planning application yet.

“The objections have all been relevant. I think we have had one email of support.”

A member of the public asked if there was any chance the community council could approach the owner of the land.

In reply it was said that the understanding is the landowner lives in Ireland.

Mick added: “Most these companies advertise on their websites that they want land. It’s quite easy to get a hold of how much on average they are giving landowners. It is an eye-watering sum.”

After a lengthy discussion on the topic, Mick read out a motion which was unanimously agreed upon. This will be the community council’s position should any future application be made.

The motion states: “After due consideration, and considering the level of representation received from Moffat residents, Moffat Community Council objects to the proposal by Conrad Energy for an industrial development adjacent to Barnhill Lane and shall press accordingly all matters related to this development.”