A battery storage system in the Rothienorman area.
Capable of storing 100MWh. Connected directly to the national grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Environment & Daily Life
Does the system make noise?
There is a quiet hum from the cooling compressors and fans — similar to the sound of an air conditioning unit. Noise levels are strictly regulated by environmental standards, and the system is designed to stay well within those limits.
Is there radiation from the BESS?
No. The electromagnetic field produced is the same low level you would find around any standard electrical installation — a home fuse box, for example. It is well within international safety limits and non-existent beyond project boundaries.
Will the lights in our town flicker when it’s working?
The opposite, actually. One of the main purposes of a battery storage system is to smooth out variations in the power supply. It actively helps prevent flickering and keeps the local grid more stable.
Will a fire pollute our groundwater?
This risk is very low. The batteries used here contain materials that do not dissolve easily in water. Additionally, the preferred approach in a fire is to let it burn out safely inside the container rather than using large amounts of water — which also means no contaminated water runs off into the surrounding ground.
Does the air smell during normal operation?
Not at all. The units are completely sealed during normal charging and discharging. There are no emissions, no gases released, and no smell whatsoever in day-to-day operation.
Fire Safety & Prevention
How do you stop a fire before it starts?
The system has smart sensors inside every unit that detect heat and gases long before a fire could start — far earlier than any human would notice. If something unusual is detected, the system automatically shuts itself down and alerts our operations team straight away. Think of it as a smoke alarm that also turns off the stove by itself.
Can one bad battery cell set the whole system on fire?
No. The system is divided into separate, sealed compartments. If one section were ever to overheat and catch fire, it is physically prevented from affecting the sections next to it. Each compartment is rated to contain a fire in itself.
Could the container explode?
No. The containers have special pressure-release panels in the roof that safely direct any build-up of heat or gas straight upward, into the sky. This is by design — it prevents any kind of explosive failure and keeps people on the ground safe.
Is the smoke toxic if the battery burns?
All smoke is harmful, which is why the system is designed to vent upward so any gases rise and disperse quickly in the air. Experts calculate that under a battery fire beyond 30–100 metres from the site, air quality remains safe. This is also why clear safety zones exist around the site
Is there a plan if things go wrong?
Yes — a detailed Emergency Response Plan is prepared in close collaboration with the local fire department before the site opens. It covers everything: who is called, in what order, how emergency vehicles access the site, and what actions are taken step by step.
Rules, Standards & Inspections
Is the system certified??
Yes. It meets UL 9540A at system level — one of the most rigorous international fire safety standards for battery storage systems, which involves large-scale real-world fire testing. It is not a paper certification; it requires the system to physically prove how it behaves in a fire.
How often is the system inspected?
Regularly, and by legal requirement. The law requires a formal maintenance and inspection plan — covering all fire safety systems, sensors, and electrical components — to be in place and followed throughout the life of the project.
What if there is a flood?
The containers are raised off the ground and built to a high waterproofing standard. The entire site also has drainage systems installed to handle heavy rainfall and prevent water from accumulating around the units.
What if the internet goes down?
The safety systems do not depend on the internet at all. Fire detection, automatic shutdown, and suppression systems are all hard-wired and work completely independently, even during a power or connectivity outage.
Emergency Response
Do the firefighters know how to handle a BESS fire?
Yes. The national emergency management authority has produced specific guidelines and action cards for exactly this type of incident. Local fire brigades are familiar with these procedures
Will the fire brigade spray water directly on the batteries?
Usually not. The standard approach is to cool the area around the containers to prevent any spread, rather than directing water onto the batteries themselves. Direct water on battery cells can sometimes create additional complications, so the fire brigade follows specific tactics for this type of fire and will be part of the development of the specific emergency response plans for this project
Can the fire brigade turn off the electricity?
Yes. Emergency responders have access to the main isolation switches to make the site electrically safe before they begin work. This is a standard requirement for any site of this type
What if there is a power outage?
The safety systems have their own backup power supply, so sensors, alarms, and the battery management system all continue to function normally even if the main grid goes down