Red-faced battery storage developer ‘failed’ to tell power plant chiefs at SSE Renewables of Loch Luichart plans

Red-faced developers behind a planned 50MW battery storage site have been left with egg on their faces after ‘failing’ to inform a power plant of their proposals - despite sharing part of the site and planning to use its access.

SSE Renewables has lodged an objection to plans for the battery storage facility and associated infrastructure on land near the Grudie Bridge hydro electric power station at the western end of Loch Luichart.

Applicant Lochluichart Battery Storage Ltd wants to build the battery plant on land roughly 800 metres north-west of Grudie Bridge, and claims that the site's location close to the existing power station, and 700 metres away from the nearest house, will make it ideal for use as a storage facility.

But SSE Renewables appears to have taken a dim view of the project after lodging an objection to the plans.

And in a letter to Highland Council planners which is likely to prove embarrassing for the applicant, SSE chiefs also made clear that they only became aware of the project after the plans became public knowledge.

Not only that but they claim that the proposal to use their access road poses a potential risk to their legal responsibility to maintain "uninterrupted access" to the Fannich Dam that feeds their plant.

And they have stressed that they "expect engagement" from the applicant over their concerns.

In the letter to Highland Council formally lodging the objection, SSE Renewables' (SSER) hydro investment manager, Andy Low said: "SSER has not been formally notified of the proposed development by the applicant. Subsequently, SSER has been made aware of the proposed development."

They continued: "SSER is landowner over part of the land upon which the proposed development and/or its infrastructure is to be situated.

"Access to the proposed development is via the track between the A832 and SSE’s Fannich Dam.

"Under the requirements of the Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011, SSE must maintain uninterrupted access to Fannich Dam for standard operational issues, data gathering for compliance with the act and for any emergency issues that may arise at any time.

"The developer has not engaged with SSER asset management team to discuss how the track will be utilised in construction and operation of the proposed development."

They added: "Additionally, the cable route for the proposed development passes under the stated access track which suggests significant disruption of access to Fannich Dam could occur.

"SSER again expects engagement to ensure appropriate mitigation is provided to ensure safe access requirements during cable routing activities."

The letter added that in light of these concerns SSER was lodging a "holding objection" to the proposed development "pending the provision by the applicant of further information" that addresses its concerns.

The letter concludes: "SSER confirms that it will be happy to engage positively with the council, its consultees and the applicant/developer with a view to addressing the above listed concerns.

"In any event, SSER trusts that the foregoing issues which it has raised in this letter will be addressed by the council ahead of its determination of the application."

SSER’s withering letter is not the only headache facing the developer. The council’s transport planning team has also lodged a holding objection pending further information about the development - including movements of abnormal loads during construction, as well as the site’s proposed access onto the busy A832 road.

A letter from the team said: “The [access] junction proposed is at an existing private estate junction which provides access to the Fannich Dam and is also used for timber extraction.

“Transport Planning note that there is currently an objection submitted from SSE regarding the proposed use of this track for access and for the cabling and the lack of consultation with themselves as landowners.

“It appears that the access junction is not wide enough to enable HGVs to pass on the minor arm and this may be required. Further information is required regarding the proposed construction traffic.

“If an upgrade of the junction is required then accurate and detailed plans based on site survey will be needed due to the presence of deep drainage ditches and services (telecom) in the verge. Proposals for dealing with these features will be required.”

READ MORE: Battery store plan at power station site near Lochluichart

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