The Romans founded York in 71 AD. Since then it just kept growing after they drained the marshes. It now has a population of 208,000 that grows considerably during tourist season. It is also a major hub for Britain’s vast fleet of electric rains. All was good energy-wise until global warming became climate change. A York battery storage project hopes to help turn this tide.
Give Us the Space for Our York Battery Storage
Give us a small part of your green belt, the UK Battery Storage company asked York City Council. You used to grow your Christmas trees there, but now it’s a small farm. Our York battery storage proposal of 25 container-style steel structures will supply 100,000 homes for an hour.
UK Battery Storage is proposing a “rapid-response back-up to the National Grid” according to York Press news site. The United Kingdom has launched a massive project to decarbonize the UK grid. However, it must also safeguard the uninterrupted flow of electricity. The 50 extra megawatts of standby energy would underpin the main supply as it copes with variable sunlight and wind.
What About Our Green Belt, Others Ask
Successive York City Councils have fought hard to keep their green belts of vegetation. Moreover, they believe it’s essential to preserve the character that millions come to admire every year. Battery storage is necessary but why put it there?
The applicants argue their proposed site for York battery storage is adjacent to one of few main-substations with sufficient capacity. Moreover, they say the project will be temporary, and ‘green fields’ will return after 20 years. UK Battery Storage also promises to shield the storage containers from view with embankments and indigenous trees.
We don’t doubt the work is necessary. However, we are concerned over whether the ‘green fields’ promises will be kept after 20 years. Because by then the current signatories will no longer be in charge.
Related
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UK Government Puts Money Into Batteries
Preview Image: Old Stone in Green Belt, York
