Useful Information & Links

Please see below for useful downloads and links to other sites that we feel are of use:

Map of all sites

Download a pdf map of all of the BESS sites at Rothienorman HERE

Template objection letter

Download a MS Word template objection letter HERE

Objection Guide

This is a really useful objection guide put together by another community group - it is for opposing wind turbines, but the process is the same for BESS sites - https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/objections/Guide-How-To-Object.pdf

Incident Report from SFRS

Download report available from Scottish Fire & Rescue Service on the fire at the Overhill BESS site (Site 1) on 21st February 2025 - is states that "A 9 tone lithium-ion phosphate battery <was> on fire. Had been damaged in transit and was not installed" - HERE

Other recent BESS fires

Tilbury, Essex, 19th Feb 2025 = https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/incidents/firefighters-respond-battery-storage-site-fire-east-tilbury-2025-02-19-15-51

https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/significant-battery-site-fire-brought-under-control

Cirencester 28th March 2025 = https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/25050489.latest-fire-cirencester-hybrid-solar-farm/

Presentation delivered at FRMCC meeting 25/03/2025

Dr Frank Richards has done some modelling of the potential smoke, fire and water run off if there was an incident at the proposed 500MW Blackford Energy Park - this was delivered to the Fyvie, Rothienorman & Monquhitter Community Council meeting on 25th March 2025. It shows that lethal fumes from a fire would reach Rothienorman village within 2 minutes, and that the water run off from fire fighting will contaminate the Black Burn which also runs directly into the village - download a copy of the presentation HERE

Aberdeenshire Council Planning

Aberdeenshire Council make decisions on applications for electricity generating sites under 50MW - you can search the planning portal here - either type in the word battery, or the specific planning reference number for a project: https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application

Energy Consents Unit

The Energy Consents Unit is used for applications of electricity generating stations over 50MW - you can check the list of sites here = https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationSearch.aspx

There is no way to get notifications for these, we recommend you check the site weekly.

The process for applications to the ECU is detailed here = https://www.gov.scot/publications/good-practice-guidance-applications-under-sections-36-37-electricity-act-1989/pages/1/

To make an objection to an ECU application, see here = https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-consents-how-to-support-or-object-to-an-application/