Cork County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Caherdowney Millstreet, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 13 battery storage applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 59 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 10 June 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

Permission is sought for a battery energy storage system which will comprise of up to 15 no. BESS units comprising of battery cells within modules stored in racks on concrete bases and ancillary equipment (4 no. BESS containers within each BESS unit); an individual unit transformer at each BESS unit with some additional ancillary equipment, a transformer compound, control building (including control room and switch room), interface kiosk and all associated electrical infrastructure equipment and works, attenuation drainage pond to southeast of the BESS site, a temporary site compound and all associated works(to be located to the south of the BESS site); upgrade of existing vehicular access to local road and all associated internal access tracks, 2.4 metre high chain link fencing and associated landscaping along the perimeter of the development, 2.4m metre high palisade fencing along the perimeter of the transformer compound, associated electrical underground cabling and ducting works facilitating the connection of the proposed site to the Ballyvouskill transmission station, all associated site development, lighting, landscaping, CCTV, security fencing, boundary treatment works above and below ground and all associated ancillary infrastructure.