Safety study to review proposed lithium battery storage

Better batteries: the hunt for an energy storage solution

Weymouth Principal Planner Eric Schneider said Calpine Fore River Energy and the Weymouth Fire Department plan to hire a consultant to study risks posed by a proposed lithium-ion battery storage system at the facility on Bridge Street.

“The request for the risk assessment was from Deputy Chief (Justin) Myers,” he said on Sept. 9. They will mutually agree on having an outside consultant do a risk assessment and look at what gaps might exist in the fire department's equipment arsenal and what might be needed in response to something that might occur. Hopefully, they (Calpine) would provide mitigation for additional equipment. There will be annual training for the Weymouth Fire Department that is relative to all risks associated with the project at Calpine’s expense.”

Schneider said he believes Calpine’s plan to have a risk assessment survey would be done in response to concerns raised by some Board of Zoning Appeals members during a public hearing last month.

Calpine is requesting a special permit for the lithium battery storage system to store energy provided by wind and sunlight during non-peak demand periods.

Calpine plant engineer Charles Parnell said the lithium storage system is needed because there is a worldwide attempt to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel and nuclear energy.

"There will be a need for these storage projects around New England and the country,” he said during an Aug. 25 public hearing.

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Schneider said lithium batteries storage systems are becoming common uses throughout the world because of a transition away from fossil fuel energy.

"These batteries are everywhere," he added. "They are part of domestic solar panels on houses, and they are in cars."

Schneider said the board could decide whether to approve a special permit on Oct. 27 if the risk assessment is looked upon favorably.

“It’s possible that what comes out of the consultant’s report might make it necessary to reopen the public hearing and take additional testimony,” he added.

Noise concerns raised about lithium battery storage proposal

Calpine plans to install the battery energy storage system in the rear of the 57-acre lot, which borders the Fore River Channel.

Company officials say the unit would be 150-feet away from all nearby property boundaries and won’t exceed local noise ordinances.

Some residents voiced concerns about unacceptable noise emitting from the lithium storage units into nearby neighborhoods during the Aug. 25 hearing.

Bluff Road resident Francis Burke said ambient noise levels at Calpine have increased over the years since the plant began operating.

"We are not talking about a rooftop air conditioner," said Burke, a former District 1 Town Councilor. "We are now adding 20 air conditioners that will make noise in the small footprint, which is where people live."

Parnell said the sound emitting from the battery storage system would be no louder than an air conditioning unit atop a restaurant on Bridge Street.

“We did submit a noise study that was performed at the site, he said during the Aug. 25 public hearing. “I think that speaks to that concern.”

Fire concerns raised about lithium battery storage proposal

Burke said he is concerned that a fire in the lithium battery storage unit would emit "deadly smoke" into nearby neighborhoods.

“I’m all for green energy,” he said. “These batteries will be powered by fossil fuel.”

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Parnell said the storage unit would consist of fire-retardant walls that prevent flames from spreading to another lithium box.

"We have a good relationship between the Weymouth Fire Department and Calpine Energy," he said. "They are familiar with the equipment on-site, and we'd work closely with them if something originated in our plant or the area."

Parnell said Calpine would work with local officials and follow emergency precautions to mitigate all hazards from a potential fire in the lithium storage unit.

“I hope people can be comfortable with how we would be prepared to mitigate any fire hazard,” he said.

Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station co-leader Alice Arena said a fire in the lithium battery unit must be extinguished with large volumes of water that would pollute the nearby Fore River Channel.

"If you use a chemical to put it out, that will go into the Fore River," she added.

Deputy Fire Chief Justin Myers said water runoff at the energy plant could be contained in a retention pond to provide firefighters with water to put out a fire.

"If a container caught fire, there would be hazardous gasses released, and our objective would be to make it safe as possible," he said. "The fire department takes into account the direction of the wind when there is a fire. If runoff from the water occurs, the site is pretty well contained."

Myers said he believes proper construction of the lithium storage units would prevent flames from spreading between the containers.

“As for the (water) runoff, I think there may need to be some engineering studies done,” he added.