Nairn gas main concern sparks objection by SGN to OPDEnergy’s battery power plant plan at Grigorhill; application currently lodged with Highland Council.

A high pressure gas pipeline next to the site of a planned 50MW battery energy storage plant near Nairn has sparked objections from engineers.

SGN has issued a holding objection to plans by applicant OPDEnergy for the 49.9MW battery energy site on land 330 metres to the east of Grigorhill Cottage, Grigorhill.

The application is one of several battery energy storage systems (BESS) proposed by different developers and currently at various stages in the planning process in the Blackpark, Grigorhill and surrounding area. Some of these have already been approved.

The flurry of applications - both here and at other locations across the Highlands - has sparked concern among communities over potential fire risks and other issues.

The concentration of such projects in the area near Nairn has also been raised at the likes of Nairn River Community Council.

And now SGN, which is responsible for maintaining gas transmission pipes, has warned that one of its high pressure pipelines passes next to the development of this latest site near Grigorhill Cottage..

It has lodged a formal objection in the interim while it holds detailed discussions over the plant and any potential risk it poses to the gas pipeline. It has also asked for a site meeting.

In a letter submitted to Highland Council as part of the planning process, SGN pipeline officer Bryan Young, said: “I can confirm the presence of a High Pressure Gas Transmission Pipeline in the vicinity of the proposed development.

“The building proximity distance for high pressure gas pipeline A11 is 32 metres, in accordance with the recommendations of The Institution of Gas Engineers document TD/1 Edition 5.

“A site meeting must be arranged with us to identify the location of the pipeline and discussions should take place with the developer to discuss which measures would be necessary and could be undertaken in order to safeguard the security of the pipeline.

“In the meantime, please treat this letter as a formal objection to this planning application until such time as a detailed consultation has taken place.”

A map lodged with the letter shows the pipeline passing much closer than 32 metres from the battery storage facilities. The route of the pipe appears to pass through the wider site, underneath a planned access road and immediately to the north of a fenced off area that would contain an attenuation basin, the battery storage facilities and associated buildings.

Meanwhile, Highland Council’s transport planning team has requested that conditions be attached to the development, should it be approved.

These would include improvements to local minor roads to accommodate construction traffic during the site’s installation. These would include additional passing places. They have also recommended that checks are carried out on nearby junctions to see if visibility is sufficient and if improvements are required.

The council’s officers and Transport Scotland have both also requested a construction traffic management plan be drawn up before any development could begin.

In a supporting statement OPDEnergy said the site is in a location that “can be developed without causing significant adverse environmental impacts, and adjacent to a spot where the grid has the capacity and the need for a five balancing mechanism; which makes it ideal for the sitting of this necessary facility to be connected to the grid, at Nairn substation”.

The site is screened to the east and south by woodland and OPDEnergy added that additional planting would be carried out to mitigate the site’s visual impact.

If approved it added that it anticipates the site would have a lifespan of up to 30 years, with potential for the battery storage facilities to be swapped out for replacements around halfway through that period.

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