Landowners and Community

Root-Power is a UK based company specialising in battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enhance renewable energy efficiency and grid reliability. They focus on storing excess energy and releasing it during peak demand, promoting a sustainable energy future. Root-Power was launched by YLEM Energy, building on their experience with large-scale energy storage projects in the UK.

The UK’s first utility scale battery energy storage development has been operating for 10 years in 2023 and there are over 100 battery energy storage sites operating across the UK today.

The original period of operation will be 30 years. Renewable technologies are constantly changing and developing, and as a result, the needs of the grid network vary over time. Currently there is a widespread need for battery energy storage in response to the large-scale connection of intermittent renewables generation across the U.K grid network, which is not yet adequately equipped to support this scale of intermittent generation.

Root-Power works with National Grid and the Distribution Network Operators to identify areas of the country which urgently require battery energy storage. We then identify a specific location based on there being suitable to existing electrical infrastructure (substations, overhead lines, underground cables etc.) and contact potential partners who have available land suitable for one of our projects, consulting with them regarding the nature of the project to ensure it complies with their plans. Following this, we then negotiate to buy or lease the land.

In addition to the broader national benefits of battery energy storage, there are substantial local economic benefits. During the initial project phase, a project of this kind can bring more than £1,000,000 of direct investment into a local area, this would primarily be in the form of the use of local services, but also in the form of the employment of local businesses to support in the delivery of the project. Longer term battery energy storage projects create high skill employment opportunities with transferrable skills which can be applied to all sorts of renewables careers. Battery energy storage sites are subject to very high levels of business rates, this represents a substantial long-term source of revenue for the local council, helping to fund local services and infrastructure.

Battery Energy Storage is a sophisticated technology with advanced automated safety features which are at the core of the design focus. During the planning application process, we will provide details to the Fire & Rescue Service of the fire safety capabilities of the technology and a dedicated emergency plan will be jointly developed with the local fire & rescue service before the site is built. Once operational the plant will be monitored and managed 24/7 by the team at Root-Power.

The site will have an emergency power supply which will maintain communication with the site for 24 hours in the event of a loss of main power. The site will have multiple methods of remote communication and backup systems including regular broadband, 4G and satellite. Any faults or loss of power on the electrical system will be instantly reported to the management team, Root-Power has field service staff on call 24/7 to attend site.

An emergency service response plan will be agreed with the local fire and rescue service prior to construction of the site. The fire and rescue service will be a consultee for the planning application and will conduct a risk assessment based on the specific details of the project.

Battery Energy Storage typically has a low noise impact, the source of the noise from a battery site is the HVAC cooling system. The cooling system activates when the battery is charging or discharging energy, this will typically be twice per day. The noise from the cooling system is 70db when measured at a distance of 1m. 70db is the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner or washing machine and is typically indiscernible at distances beyond 150m. As a part of the planning application process, we will prepare an acoustic impact assessment, this will determine if the development is likely to cause any adverse noise impact on any nearby sensitive receptors (sensitive receptors can be residential, commercial, or ecological) and will then place strict conditions on the development to mitigate any impact.

Root-Power sources its battery energy storage technology from a supplier based out of Canada. Canada ranks eighth in terms of global output of Lithium and has the fifth largest lithium reserves. Root-Power selected its current supplier based on a rigorous investigation into the working practices and ethics of the supply chain. Our commitment to ethical practices begins at the highest level.

UK legislation states that the supplier of battery technology into the country has an obligation to recover and dispose of batteries at the end of their life. There are substantial second life opportunities for utility batteries for example in electric vehicles. There is an emerging sector focused upon recycling of batteries, including those in electric vehicles and utility scale batteries.

As a part of the planning application process, we will prepare an ecological impact assessment, this will identify the presence of any local protected wildlife and any potential harm caused by the development to the local flora and fauna. We will then be required to demonstrate how any harm will be mitigated. Root-Power will be required to put forward a proposal to demonstrate biodiversity net gain (BNG) is being achieved by the development. This essentially obligates Root-Power to ensure that in addition to the development we are including measures to enhance the local environment.

Following the public consultation meetings Root-Power will prepare a series of reports and assessments which provide justification for the development. This will then be reviewed by the local councils planning team along with the relevant statutory consultees – Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Emergency Services, Transport Scotland, the Coal Authority etc. these consultees will challenge or query any aspects of the development which require further evidence or justification The local authority will then issue a planning decision, considering the recommendations of the various consultees.

If planning permission is granted, the project will take between 9 and 10 months to build. The main equipment main deliveries to the site would take place over the space of 1-2 weeks planned in with the local traffic team. The remainder of the construction period would consist of light construction traffic such as deliveries of materials and construction and engineering teams attending during normal working hours

As a part of the planning application process, we will prepare a construction traffic management plan, this will demonstrate how we will reduce any disruption or contribution to any local congestion to an absolute minimum. This may include restrictions on working times, delivery times and may impose the need to coordinate deliveries to be undertaken at certain times of the year. Any road closures, temporary lights or other traffic management will be subject to an application and approval by the local authority (NRSWA Section 50). Once operational battery energy storage is largely autonomous, typically only visited by a field service engineer a few times a year.