Fasnakyle residents have raised safety fears over the firm Intelligent Land Investment's plans before Highland Council to create a 50MW battery storage plant near Cannich at the gateway to the Glen Affric nature reserve

Villagers appalled at plans to site an industrial-scale energy plant at the gateway to one of Scotland’s most scenic glens have raised fears of fire risk.

The firm Intelligent Land Investments (ILI) wants to create a battery storage site at Fasnakyle, near Cannich, on the leafy approach to the world-renowned Glen Affric.

If approved by Highland Council, the development would see a 50 megawatt electricity substation, transformers and up to 52 truck-sized containers measuring 2.5m tall installed in a meadow among natural woodland.

Among the protestors’ greatest concerns is fire and toxic pollution risk, given the close proximity to houses, woodland and Glen Affric national nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

They cite an Oxford University paper written last year on the safety of grid-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems and the threat of “thermal runaway” events witnessed elsewhere in the world.

In it, among many warnings, academic experts state: “Incidents of serious fire and explosion suggest that the danger of these to the public, and emergency services, should be properly examined.”

A proposal of application notice (PAN) lodged with council planners features an access track, buildings and equipment, security cameras, fencing, and landscaping works.

ILI has successfully created a number of similar energy storage plants in other parts of

Scotland, including one near Fort Augustus, and has lodged a similar PAN for Sir Walter Scott Drive in Inverness, just south of Fairways.

The firm has an agreement to purchase the 6.75 hectares site, less than two miles southwest of Cannich, from the Fasnakyle House landowner.

All five neighbouring households directly impacted oppose the plan, while Steve Murray, the owner and restorer of nearby Fasnakyle Church, also objects.

Strathglass Community Council is awaiting the full planning application before stating its position, but previously opposed a later withdrawn application by ILI for a similar scheme directly east of Fasnakyle Church.

Lead protestor Ian Mckay, a programme manager for a national bank, has lived for 10 years at Tigh Na Bradhan, Fasnakyle, with wife Loretta and their four children.

Mr Mckay said: “This site is probably 70m from our house. We’re not against renewables or battery storage facilities, what we’re against is the location of them and the way they’re going through planning.

“Up until 2020, any major development like this would have gone to the Scottish Government.

“The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) changed in 2020 to say they could now go through local planning if they were under 50 megawatt.

“I’ve done a lot of research and this is the only one I’ve seen this close to housing. They are setting a precedent, I think, if it goes through.

“It is also close to historic buildings – Fasnakyle Bridge, Fasnakyle Power Station, which is grade A listed, and Fasnakyle Church.

“Thirdly, it would be sited right at the gateway to Glen Affric as well. Another factor in battery storage is health and safety. There is a lot of evidence pointing to safety concerns.”

The academic report describes how huge battery “fires” have hit locations in South Korea, Belgium, Arizona and Liverpool in recent years.

With no oxygen involved, they are not fires initially but “thermal runaway” events, with a single faulty battery cell spreading to others to cause huge, uncontrollable energy releases.

The authors say these are often “beyond the knowledge, experience and capabilities of local fire and rescue services” and “uncontrollable except by extravagant water cooling”.

ILI carried out an in-person public consultation on September 27 and an online consultation on October 13.

Mr Mckay added: “We’re strongly against this and we’re looking to secure more support from within the community.

“It is about location, tourism impact, and policy constraints from a local planning perspective.

“We’re a small community and, with small communities, these companies can often get applications through because small communities cannot muster many objections.

“We’re hiring the services of a professional planning consultant because it is just too important.”

Mr Murray said: “The site chosen for this proposed development is wholly inappropriate and insensitive to the natural beauty of the area, as well as the feelings of those living nearby.

“I think ILI are aware of this but can’t resist the relatively low cost of developing such an easy site.

“This is in essence an opportunistic roll of the dice with a cynical disregard for everything but the potential profit.

“They have already had one site refused and continue to put pressure on local planning with the insistence that they are working for the greater good and that we all must share the burden of responsibility in providing clean energy.

“The natural environment has been altered by Hydro schemes across the region. The Highlands already produces renewable energy far beyond what it needs and contributes hugely to the national grid.

“In return, we would expect a little respect and appreciation for the support we give to these projects and that in return our voices are heard and that developers are sympathetic in the impact of any planning proposal.

“This particular development is plainly contemptuous of these sensitivities.”

“This is in essence an opportunistic roll of the dice with a cynical disregard for everything but the potential profit,” he added.

A statement from ILI said: "The electricity system has an urgent need for additional storage as we move away from fossil fuel generation to more intermittent wind and solar power.

"We take all the issues raised seriously.

"For this project high quality landscaping and new planting of native trees is proposed to screen the site from the road.

"The SSSI lies well away from the site and would not experience any impact.

"There are many such facilities operating safely in the UK and around the world and this site respects normal safety distances.

"As a fixed installation, the facility will be built in line with current regulations and best practice. We believe that the site can be part of the energy transition and be a good neighbour in the community."