Norfolk County Council has formally called on the UK Government to fund training and equipment for fire and rescue services in areas hosting or expecting large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), amid rising concern over safety preparedness.
The council’s motion, passed this month, asks Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to ensure that local emergency services are equipped to manage incidents involving battery storage facilities—particularly in counties like Norfolk where multiple BESS projects are under consideration.
BESS facilities are designed to store energy from renewable and conventional sources, such as wind, solar, and fossil fuels. Using lithium-ion battery arrays typically housed in containerised units, they play a key role in the UK’s net-zero energy transition. The government has set a target to grow national storage capacity from 4.5 GW in 2024 to 27 GW by 2030.
Although serious incidents involving BESS are rare, fire services and safety experts have begun to label them an “emerging risk.” The Health and Safety Executive currently oversees general regulation, but no dedicated national safety standards have yet been established.
The council also criticised current planning rules, which do not require formal input from fire services on BESS developments. A major proposal near Rushall, south Norfolk, has recently been paused, reflecting growing scrutiny around local safety readiness.
