Donegal County Council refuses permission for battery energy storage plant at BALLYSHANNON, Co. Donegal

In context

It is one of 5 battery storage applications Donegal 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 25 November 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

A TEN-YEAR PERMISSION FOR A GRID SERVICES FACILITY COMPRISING OF (1) AN ENCLOSED BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM COMPOUND CONTAINING BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE CONTAINERS, ELECTRICAL INVERTERS, TRANSFORMERS AND POWER CONTROL CENTRES, (2) AN ENCLOSED SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER COMPOUND CONTAINING A HORIZONTAL SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR HOUSED WITHIN A SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER BUILDING AND ANCILLARY INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING A FLYWHEEL, TRANSFORMER, CIRCUIT BREAKER AND COOLING EQUIPMENT, (3) UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS CABLING, (4) SITE ENTRANCE FROM THE L7965-1 LOCAL ROAD, (5) ON-SITE ACCESS TRACK, (6) SECURITY FENCING AND SECURITY GATES, (7) POLE-MOUNTED SECURITY CAMERAS, (8) ALL ASSOCIATED AND ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT, LANDSCAPING AND REINSTATEMENT WORKS. THE OPERATIONAL LIFETIME OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS 35 YEARS. THIS PLANNING APPLICATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT SCREENING REPORT