Good morning, Convenor and Councillors.

In my capacity as her Community Councillor, I have been asked to represent Gillian Laing, who registered an objection to the proposed grid battery energy storage facility, which is intended to be sited in an agricultural field located on the southern side of Countesswells Road.

Ms. Laing asks you to take note of her objections which are as follows: -

The development is proposed to be located on an unspoilt rural area which is part of Aberdeen’s greenbelt. The proposed site is in a field which, until recently, was under cultivation.

The formation of the access road to the proposed development cuts across a connected area of greenbelt, thus disconnecting it from an adjacent area of greenspace. This is contrary to the concept of greenbelt, which is a system of connected greenspaces intended to provide access to the countryside.

The probable negative visual effect of this industrial development would significantly and adversely impact upon the rural landscape as well as the residential dwellings that closely neighbour its site.

Its design and prominence are detrimental to the pleasant and welcoming ambience of the intended location, which features green fields and woodlands.

In woodlands to the west of the proposed site, there is a small group of dwelling houses. A short distance, west of the houses, there is a reservoir. Nearby, to the east of the site of the proposed development are the Countesswells Playing Fields.

A fire at the battery storage site is likely to put those using the playing fields at risk of harm from toxic gasses and smoke.

Further to the east of the site is the location of Airyhall Primary School. In the event of spontaneous combustion in the proposed battery energy storage system, the school could become enveloped in clouds of toxic gasses, endangering the lives of pupils and staff.

At this juncture, it is necessary to briefly explain why lithium-ion battery storage systems pose the risks of fire, toxic gasses and explosions.

According to the ‘Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries’, volume 81, February 2023, “Under a variety of scenarios (i.e., short circuit), the stored chemical energy is converted to thermal energy. The typical consequence is cell rupture and the release of large amounts of flammable and potentially toxic gases, which can lead to fire and explosion”.

In the event of the dangerous occurrence described in the above paragraph, the densely populated communities to the north of the site (the new Countesswells development, the housing estates of Hazlewood, Burnieboozle and Craigiebuckler) are at risk (depending on the wind direction) of being overwhelmed by clouds of toxic gasses.

The Aldi store, by virtue of its location, could also be filled with toxic gasses, resulting in multiple casualties.

Pollution of the area’s high-water table may also be caused by chemical leakages as the batteries deteriorate towards the end of their 5-year lifespan.

Properties in Craigiebuckler, Burnieboozle, and Countesswells are prone to being flooded by groundwater during periods of sustained, heavy rainfall. In future, that floodwater could also contain toxic substances which have leaked from the battery energy storage system.

The Press reported that, less than 2 weeks ago, there was a fire in California when the San Diego lithium-ion battery energy storage system, linked to a substation, went on fire. It was a 30MW system. The proposed battery energy storage system is 40MW. Population evacuations were the result.

In May 2024, another facility in California burned for nearly 2 weeks reigniting several times and prompting evacuation orders to be issued.

In September 2023, another battery energy storage system went on fire resulting in an evacuation order for anyone within a quarter mile of the site.

A fire at the proposed battery energy storage system could cause the evacuation of the whole of the Countesswells Area, RGC playing fields, ALDI supermarket, Airyhall primary school, the residential communities of Airyhall, Craigiebuckler and Burnieboozle - as well as the James Hutton Research Institute.

I conclude that, for the reasons detailed above, this type of development is wholly unsuitable for its proposed location.