Clare County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Ballygeery West, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 5 battery storage applications Clare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 58 nationally. Of the 72 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 78% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 22 October 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Clare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

for development which will consist of: 1 No. enclosed battery energy storage system compound on a total of c. 6.2 hectare site, to include: 1 no. 220kv GIS electrical substation building and 1 no. single storey customer substation building, control and switch room, 220kv transformer and four no. auxiliary transformers, up to 192 battery storage blocks on concrete support structures including heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC units), 16 transformer and 32 inverter units. Including access tracks and site entrance, associated electrical cabling and ducting, security gates, perimeter security fencing, CCTV system, landscaping works and all associated ancillary infrastructure. The proposed development will have a projected life span of 35 years. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared to accompany this application