A COMMUNITY councillor is calling for more clarity over fire prevention plans for a proposed battery energy storage facility at Hunterston.

David Telford says his concerns have been heightened by a fire at a lithium battery storage unit in South Korea on Monday which killed at least 22 people.

Closer to home, a major blaze broke out at a battery recycling facility in Linwood, Renfrewshire on Sunday evening, while less than three months ago, fire destroyed a similar battery recycling plant in Kilwinning.

Renewable energy developers Amp Energy announced plans in 2022 for a 'Scottish Green Battery Complex' at Hunterston.

It's one of two Amp Energy sites which are each set to provide 400 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage capacity, the other being at Kincardine in Fife.

But Mr Telford, a member of Fairlie Communiity Council, says that while Amp Energy did issue fire safety documents for its Hunterston proposals two years ago, the information contained in them is "too generic". 

He now wants to see specific information on how prevention measures will be tailored towards the company's Hunterston plant when it becomes operational.

We reported in March that long running concerns over the potential fire risk from battery energy storage systems has been raised at North Ayrshire Council.

Mr Telford said: "It very scary what happened in South Korea this morning, particularly as Fairlie Community Council is going round in circles trying to find out what the fire protection measures are for the Hunterston battery energy storage system.

"We have put some pressure on and got some answers, as the initial report from 2022 seems very generic for all their plants around the UK, and not specifically for the Hunterston plant.

"This information about how we are going to fight fires should have been determined at the outset of the planning application to the Scottish Energy Consents Unit, not halfway through construction.

"My concerns on the Hunterston are in particular regard to the formal arrangements for fire fighting, including adequate water supply and environmentally safe run-off. 

"The principal concern is related to the hazard of toxic fumes to our local population, but also to the safety of our firefighters who may be engaged in fighting this type of dangerous, chemical fire."

Amp Energy's 2022 report stated: "A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) will be produced for the Hunterston site, renewed annually, or sooner if material changes to the fire risk at the respective site necessitate a review.

"This will guarantee that there is always an up-to-date and relevant understanding of the fire risks at each site.

"Each FRA will record significant findings in relation to the hazards, those at risk and the steps already taken, and those that still need to be taken, to reduce the risk caused by the hazards.

The report also states: "In order to minimise fire risk, Amp puts fire prevention at the forefront of considerations during design, construction and operation.

"As an outdoor non-walk-in battery energy storage system, each battery energy storage system container provides a perfect set of fire suppression system solutions, with detection, explosion control and fire extinguishing functions.

"The fire extinguishing control strategy is divided into four levels: first level, alarm warning; second level, ventilation and smoke exhaust to prevent deflagration; third level, tertiary aerosol is released to extinguish the initial fire; fourth level, water spraying to control the spread of fire.

"The fire suppression system is divided into three parts: detection system, explosion-proof system and fire extinguishing system."

The report on fire suppression provides details on fire suppression, detection, explosion protection and fire extinguishing.

The South Korea facility, in the city of Hwaesong, housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on its second floor, where batteries were inspected and packaged, according to the BBC.

Group Commander Gavin Hammond is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Head of Fire Safety Enforcement and Fire Engineering.

He said: "We have a bespoke working group in place which covers electrical and battery safety. This include various stakeholders and assists in a number of workstreams, including the planning and consultation process for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

"When we receive information about proposed BESS sites we refer those involved in any application process to the National Fire Chief Council's best practice guidance for such sites.

"These guidelines detail, amongst other things, minimum standards with fire safety systems and design features, water requirements for firefighting and access requirements.

"If the requirements set out in this guidance are not being met, it is for any site developer to provide justification and associated mitigation and thereafter for the local authority  and/or the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit to make decisions regards approving the consent."