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0.56 hectares site within ESB Aghada Generating Station Ballincarroonig Aghada Co Cork P25 XE94

Conditional Permission

Planning application 24/4026

Cork - Cork County Council

Proposed Development

The proposed development consists of the construction of a hydrogen production facility comprising a hydrogen compound and contractor’s compound with all associated site access and ancillary site development works. The proposed development will demonstrate the full chain hydrogen production via electrolysis, storage, usage on site via fuel cell and transport offsite to other sector hydrogen users. The proposed development is to be used for hydrogen production for an operational period of up to five years. The proposed development comprises : 1) 1 megawatt (MW) electrolyser including a water purification unit (40-foot (ft) container) (2.5m x 12.2m x 5.4m) with a stack height of 7.7m above ground level, 2) A transformer and control unit container (2.8m x 7.5m x 3.3m) housing a 6.6 kilovolt (kV) to 400kV transformer, 3) A storage container (2.8m x 6.4m x 3.3m), 4) A welfare unit (2.8m x 7.5m x 3.3m), 5) A compressor (20ft container) (2.7m x 6.4m x 4.3m), 6) 5 x 2.5kg low pressure (30 bar) hydrogen storage MCP units (manifolded cylinder pallets) (1m x 1m x 2.1m), 7) 3 x 19kg high pressure (300 bar) hydrogen storage MCP units (manifolded cylinder pallets) (1m x 1m x 2.1m), 8) 2 x 61kg low pressure (30 bar) nitrogen storage MCP units (manifolded cylinder pallets) (1m x 1m x 2.1m), 9) 2 x 31kg high pressure (300 bar) nitrogen storage MCP units (manifolded cylinder pallets) (1m x 1m x 2.1m), 10) 4 x 400kg (high pressure) mobile refuelling hydrogen storage vehicles, 11) 2 x 250 kilowatt (kW) hydrogen power units (2.7m x 7.3m x 5.4m), 12) Heavy goods vehicles (HGV) loading bays with 4m high walls, 13) A palisade fence enclosing the hydrogen compound (2.6m height). In addition to the above, planning permission is also sought for all ancillary site and development works to facilitate the development including the MCP filling area, internal site access road, 3 no. car parking spaces, 2 no. EV chargers, barrier, lighting and CCTV, drainage infrastructure and pipe racks/cable trays. After up to five years in operation, the decommissioning phase of the proposed development will comprise the removal of the electrolyser, transformer and control unit container, compressor, MCP units, mobile refuelling hydrogen storage vehicles, hydrogen power units, storage container and welfare unit from the site and removal of loading bay walls to level in line with the concrete yard. The contractors compound area will be reinstated to its present condition during decommissioning. It is proposed that all utility service connections and all other structures and installations on site including, but not limited to, the hydrogen compound fencing, concrete yard, lighting and CCTV will be retained on site in perpetuity. The proposed development consists of an activity for which an Industrial Emissions Licence is required. ESB Aghada Generating Station is a registered lower tier establishment under the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations, 2015. The development will consist of the provision of, or modifications to, an establishment within the meaning of Part 11 of the Planning and Development Regulations (Major Accidents Directive). A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the planning authority with the application.

View the full application file on the council's planning portal →

Application Timeline

  1. Application received

    23 Jan 2024

  2. Decision due

    5 Mar 2024

  3. Decision: Conditional Permission

    5 Mar 2024

  4. Grant issued

    12 Apr 2024

Application Details

Location
0.56 hectares site within ESB Aghada Generating Station Ballincarroonig Aghada Co Cork P25 XE94
Applicant
N/A
Application Type
Permission
Planning Authority
Cork County Council

Timeline

Registration Date
23 January 2024
Status
Application Closed
Decision
Conditional Permission
Decision Date
5 March 2024
Grant Date
12 April 2024

Location

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Planning Applications Nearby

What the council has granted and refused around this site is the best guide to how a similar application will fare.

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05/1260CONDITIONAL3 Mar 2005

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11/5408CONDITIONAL28 Jun 2011

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04/9195INCOMPLETED APPLICATION15 Dec 2004

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07/9925INCOMPLETED APPLICATION27 Jul 2007

Construction of 220kV switching station compound comprising surge arrestors, voltage transformers, line earth disconnects, circuit breaker, associated single storey control building, site roads, entrance gate and fencing

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07/10507CONDITIONAL24 Aug 2007

Construction of 220kV switching station (tail station) compound comprising of surge arrestors, voltage transformers, line earth disconnects, circuit breaker, single storey control building, site roads, entrance gate and fencing

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23/5104Conditional Permission31 May 2023

Development is sought for a period of 10 years at a 10.22 hectares site within ESB Aghada Generating Station consisting of 1) Construction/installation of an open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) generating unit and associated plant and equipment, comprising the following main components with approximate dimensions as stated : Gas turbine air intake [24m x 18m x 26m high], Generator enclosure [24m x 18m x 14.5m high], Gas turbine enclosure [53m x 15m x 26m high], Exhauster diffuser [14.5m x 10.4m x 10.5m high], Exhaust stack [40m high, 8m diameter], Gas turbine control and electrical modules [20.5m x 18m x 10m high], Fin fan coolers [27m x 19m x 8m high], Main transformer [12.2m x 7.5m x 8.5m high] including 17.6m x 17.9m concrete bund; and 2 no. 12m high concrete blast walls, Auxiliary transformer [5m x 4.7m x 7.5m high] including 6.8m x 7.5m concrete bund; and 2 no. 12m high concrete blast walls, Demineralised water treatment plant [20m x 10m x 5.4m high], Demin water storage tank [14.63m high x 24.4m diameter], Raw water/Firewater storage tank [14.63m high x 15.2m diameter], Fuel oil storage tanks [two, each 12.19m high x 17.4, diameter], including 67m x 35m concrete bund, Fuel oil forwarding pumps [6m x 10m x 2.2m high], Firefighting pumphouse [10m x 7m x 5.4m high], Gas conditioning compound [42.3m x 11.5m x 6m high]. Above ground installation gas compound expansion [23m x 73m], Indoor switchgear building [20m x 30m x 18m high], Emergency diesel generator <1 MW [10m x 4m x 5m high], Generator circuit breaker [8.8m x 5.1m x 4m high], Continuous emissions monitoring skid [3.5 m x 2.5m x 5m high], Workshop/Stores/Administration building [35.9m x 12m x 15m], Hydrogen storage compound [8m x 4m x 2m high], Surface water drainage system, Vehicle parking, Internal roadways, 2) Demolition of an existing single storey stores building, 3) connection to the existing on-site above ground installation (AGI), 4) Connection to the National Grid by means of underground cable to existing on-site 220kV substation, 5) All associated works to facilitate the development such as temporary construction compounds, perimeter fencing, use of an existing access to public road, above ground pipe racks, underground cables on the site and crossing the R630 roadway, site lighting and telecommunications. The development consists of an activity for which an Industrial Emissions Licence is required. ESB Aghada Generating Station is a registered lower tier establishment under the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations, 2015. The development will consist of the provision of, or modifications to, an establishment within the meaning of part 11 of the Planning and Development Regulations (Major Accidents Directive). An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) complying with the European Union (Planning and Development) (Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 296 of 2018) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application.

ESB Aghada Generating Station Ballincarroonig Aghada Co Cork

435m
26/1242Grant with Conditions12 May 2026

Electricity Supply Board (ESB) intends to apply for Permission for development at a 10.22 hectare site within ESB Aghada Generating Station. The Proposed Development includes amendments to the development described in the planning application granted planning permission (Planning Reference No. 23/5104) dated the 7th of December 2023 by Cork County Council (CCC). The proposed amendments are: i. An air insulated switchgear (AIS) compound to replace the previously approved gas insulated switchgear (GIS) building (in same location and similar in area), ii. A new 49m² control room (3.6 m high) within the AIS compound, iii. Reconfiguration of the approved rainwater drainage system, iv. A new underground firewater retention basin (approx. dimensions: 280m2 / 700m3). The development consists of an activity for which an Industrial Emissions Licence is required. ESB Aghada Generating Station is a registered lower tier establishment under the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations, 2015. The development will consist of the provision of, or amendments to, an establishment within the meaning of Part 11 of the Planning and Development Regulations (Major Accidents Directive). An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) complying with the European Union (Planning and Development) (Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 296 of 2018) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) were submitted to the Planning Authority with the previously approved application. An Environmental Effects Compliance Report and Ecology Technical Note accompany this application confirming no changes to the previous conclusions.

ESB Aghada Generating Station, Townlands of Ballincarroonig and Aghada, Aghada, Co. Cork, P25 XE94

461m
11/5336INCOMPLETED APPLICATION20 Jun 2011

Single storey store building

Aghada Generating Station Ballincarroonig Whitegate

519m
20/5787INCOMPLETED APPLICATION19 Aug 2020

For development of this site on a 1.81 ha site which is licenced by the Environmental Protection Agency under an Industrial Emissions (IE) Licence (Ref. P0561-05) and a Lower Tier COMAH site and therefore falls under the requirements of the control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH) Regulations, 2015 The development will consist of a 75 MWe (electrical output) aero derivative gas fired turbine, including the following elements: (a) 1 No. turbine module (c.535 sq.m ., c.15.2m high) in a fully enclosed weatherproof acoustic enclosure including a c.30m high stack, selective catalytic reduction (SCR), gas turbine and air intake; (b) supporting items of plant including: step up transformer with firewall (c.192 sq.m.); bunded station service transformer (c.11 sq.m); single storey control/electrical room (c.150 sq.m.); bunded ammonia storage tank (c.20 sq.m.); gas compressor (c128sq.m.); gas compressor cooler (c.28 sq.m.); single storey building containing a fire suppression system and gas bottle storage (c.79 sq.m.); fin fan coolers (c.53 sq.m.); lube oil skid (c.32 sq.m.); fenced gas receiving station (c.11 sq.m.); (c) external service areas including a maintenance laydown area and an ammonia unloading area; (d) connections to existing site services networks including gas, liquid fuel, electrical , water and wastewater and an underground surface water attenuation tank connecting to surface water drains. (e) all other ancillary and miscellaneous site works including site clearance; site access and a temporary construction compound. [For information – the planning application represents a resubmission of a similar 55 MW development approved by CCC under Reg. Ref. 19/5411]. The planning permission is being sought for a 10 year duration. The application relates to a development which comprises or is for the purposes of an activity requiring an Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) licence and full details of the proposed development and its anticipated environmental impacts will be notified to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application.

On a 1.81 ha Site to the east of the R630 in the townlands of Ballincarroonig and Aghada, located inside the Aghada Generating Station, Ballincarroonig, Whitegate, Co. Cork

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