St-Niklaas BESS

This location is particularly well suited for the construction of a BESS project for several reasons. The site is located in a zone designated for community facilities and public utilities. This is the type of zone defined by law for placing infrastructure such as transformers. Moreover, there is sufficient space to carry out the project with minimal impact on the surrounding area. The plots are also located close to an Elia substation, and there is adequate capacity available on the Elia network in the region. Additionally, high-voltage power lines and the highway are already present, which helps limit the visual impact of the project. All these factors make this location ideal for building a BESS project.

No, that is not possible because there is no longer sufficient capacity available on the Elia network in the region for an expansion.

No, there is no danger to local residents. The battery containers are well protected against fire, using fire-resistant materials and various sensors. If there is a risk of overheating, the batteries automatically shut down. In the highly unlikely event that the safety systems fail, only a small, localized fire could occur. Thanks to the spacing between the battery containers and the fire-resistant materials, the fire would not be able to spread further. The site is also easily accessible for the fire department via two entrances, and several hydrants are available.

A BESS project is built using LFP batteries (lithium iron phosphate), which are considered a particularly safe solution for energy storage. Compared to the more common NMC type—mainly used in cars, bikes, and various consumer electronics—LFP batteries have a much higher ignition temperature, significantly reducing the risk of fire. They are also more stable in the event of damage or short circuits, which lowers the chance of a thermal chain reaction. Since they do not release oxygen when overheated, the likelihood of fire spreading is also reduced. Furthermore, LFP batteries do not contain cobalt, making them chemically more stable and less reactive. Their longer lifespan also reduces the risk of defects and technical failures.

Yes, like many industrial installations, BESS sites do produce noise. This noise mainly comes from two sources: the high-voltage transformer, which can emit a humming sound, and the fans inside the battery containers, which are needed to cool the equipment. Additionally, the inverters also generate some noise, though to a lesser extent. In a worst-case scenario—without any background noise and at full load—the noise in the surrounding area would reach a maximum of 47 dB(A). In reality, the battery park only causes a barely noticeable increase of about 1 dB(A) on top of the existing ambient noise.

Yes, several mitigating measures are being taken to limit potential noise disturbance:

• A sound barrier will be installed around the BESS site to reduce noise transmission.
• The batteries with fans will be placed in enclosed cabinets.
• The inverters will be fitted with noise-damping kits.
• The installation is designed to comply with the strictest standards of Flemish environmental legislation, ensuring no disturbance to local residents.

Here too, you must consider the maximum sound power at the source, or you’ll be making an incorrect comparison. You would, for instance, need to place a sound meter right next to the tires and engines of trucks during heavy traffic. In that case, you would measure a sound level of over 100 dB(A), which is much louder than the battery park.

If the wind is blowing from the direction of the BESS site and the battery cooling is running at full power, the noise level at the nearest house will be a maximum of 47 dB(A). In contrast, the highway produces an average noise level between 55 and 60 dB(A). It’s important to understand that decibel levels cannot simply be added together. For example, a normal conversation is about 60 dB(A), but two people talking at once doesn’t make it 120 dB(A)—120 dB(A) is the source noise level of a police siren. So, because the highway already generates noise, you will not be able to hear the BESS site—even when it’s operating at full power. In practice, the increase in ambient noise will not be noticeable.

No. The BESS site is a relatively small industrial installation at a single location, whereas the highway stretches over many kilometres and spreads sound over a much larger distance. As a result, highway noise will travel much farther and be more noticeable than the noise from the battery park. Additionally, a sound barrier will be installed around the BESS site to further dampen the sound and minimize the impact on the surroundings.

No, the noise from a highway mainly comes from the contact between tires and asphalt, not from the engines. For passenger cars at speeds over 50 km/h and for trucks over 70 km/h, tire noise is the dominant source. This doesn’t change whether vehicles run on petrol, diesel, or electricity.

No, the BESS site fully complies with Flemish environmental legislation, which regulates noise at different frequencies. Whether high or low tones, the park meets the standards and does not cause nuisance due to sound.