Battery farm next to Sandwell's metro HQ approved after collapsing mine fears
A plan to build a six-acre battery farm next to the region’s metro headquarters has been given the green light.
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The new battery energy storage system will be built on six acres of land next to Wednesbury Asphalt Plant near the Midlands Metro depot at Wednesbury Great Western Street.
The work would take between a year and 18 months, according to the application by Gresham House Devco Pipeline and now approved by planners at Sandwell Council.
A new extended metro line from Wednesbury Great Western Street towards Dudley via Great Bridge and Tipton is currently being built – less than 100 metres away from the proposed battery farm.
A typical battery farm provides 90 minutes of electricity for around 600 homes during ‘peak’ times. The ‘lifetime’ of the farm would be 40 years, according to the application.
The work includes battery containers, which would look like shipping containers, transformers, substations and associated access and drainage infrastructure. The battery farm would connect to the grid through a nearby substation in Ocker Hill.
The Coal Authority had raised “substantive” concerns about the application due to the number of uncapped mineshafts in the area – saying there was a “dangerous and significant safety risk.” The Coal Authority also said assessments included with the planning application were out-of-date and needed reviewing.
The body later withdrew its objection following discussions with the developer and an agreement that the whole site would surveyed for mineshafts.
The safety and stability of the land would have to be signed off before work could begin, the council’s decision notice said.
A statement included with the application said: “The battery energy storage system (BESS) is designed to capture energy and use it at a later predetermined date.
“These systems complement intermittent sources of energy such as wind, tidal and solar power, in an attempt to balance energy production and consumption.
“In addition, [the storage system] can provide system security by supplying energy during electricity outages; minimising the disruption and costs associated with power outages.
“The proposed development would contribute towards ensuring that there is a reliable and constant supply of electricity across National Grid’s transmission network.”
