Clare County Council grants permission for wind farm grid connection works at Booltiagh, Ennis, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 4 wind energy applications Clare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 62 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% 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 21 August 2026. 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 at this site measuring c. 1.42 Ha located within the townland of Booltiagh, Ennis, Co. Clare. The development seeks to amend the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development permitted under ref. 23/60414 and the existing permanent 110kV Booltiagh Substation permitted under ref. 00/567 (ACP ref. 120616) amended by ref. 11/340, which are both co-located with the existing and operational Booltiagh wind farm. There are no proposed amendments to the permitted and operational wind farm. The amendments to the permitted BESS will consist of the excavation and removal of 0.36Ha of peat within the proposed fenced BESS enclosure area and the import of equivalent amount of stone to level the site; a revised BESS enclosure to occupy a reduced footprint and layout for the construction and operation of reduced battery array units (32 nos.) with built in inverters resulting in the exclusion of permitted standalone inverters; a revised control & SCADA room, inclusion of 2 no. auxiliary transformer units, 1 no. storage container, and 1 no. standby generator and fuel tank; replacement of permitted MVA transformers with 8 no. MVA Skids (transformers and switchgear); and a revised gated access point and roads; and the installation of a 230m long 20kV underground interconnector cable to connect the BESS control and SCADA room to the existing 110kV Booltiagh substation. The amendments to the permitted 110kV substation will consist of the replacement of the grid transformer in the IPP compound including 110kV circuit breaker, combined CT/VT, disconnector, earth switch and surge arrestors, two post insulators, two auxiliary transformers, one house transformer, one generator and diesel tank and underground cabling trenching; and revisions to permitted ancillary infrastructure layout including security fencing, lighting, lightening masts, two interface kiosks, and CCTV. This application seeks a 10-year duration of planning permission and 35-year duration of operational lifetime of the permitted BESS infrastructure. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply