Donegal County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at BALLYNAHONE, BUNCRANA, 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 15 November 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

(1) A 10-YEAR PERMISSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG DURATION ENERGY STORAGE (LDES) COMPOUND WITH A TOTAL SURFACE AREA OF C.2.9HA CONTAINING 248NO. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE UNITS IN THE FORM OF METAL SHIPPING CONTAINERS [APPROXIMATELY 12.2M (L) X 2.6M (W) AND 2.9M (H) EACH] AND ASSOCIATED ANCILLARY CONTROL AND VENTILATION EQUIPMENT; (2) INSTALLATION OF AN ONSITE TRANSFORMER COMPOUND (C.3,600SQ M) TO FACILITATE AN UNDER-THE FENCE CONNECTION TO THE ADJACENT TRILLICK 110KV SUBSTATION. THE TRANSFORMER COMPOUND WILL INCLUDE A CONTROL BUILDING OF C.27SQ M, A 110 KV TRANSFORMER, ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, AND AN UP TO 18M HIGH LIGHTNING PROTECTION MONOPOLE MAST; (3) A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION COMPOUND WITH A TOTAL SURFACE AREA OF C.1,500SQ M. C.515M OF NEW AND UPGRADED ACCESS TRACKS; 3NO. ENTRANCES FROM THE L-7231 PUBLIC ROAD COMPRISING THE UPGRADE OF 1NO. EXISTING ENTRANCE AND CREATION OF 1NO. NEW PERMANENT ACCESS AND 1NO. NEW TEMPORARY ACCESS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITY; (4) UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS CABLING BETWEEN THE PROPOSED LDES COMPOUND AND THE PROPOSED ON-SITE TRANSFORMER COMPOUND WHICH WILL CROSS UNDER THE L-7231 PUBLIC ROAD; (5) SECURITY LIGHTING; (6) POLE MOUNTED CCTV AND COMMUNICATIONS MAST; (7) ON-SITE FRESHWATER STORAGE TANK INCLUDING FRESH WATER TREATMENT UNIT IN THE FORM OF A METAL SHIPPING CONTAINER; (8) ON-SITE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED VEGETATED ATTENUATION POND; (9) A STORAGE CONTAINER IN THE FORM OF A METAL SHIPPING CONTAINER; (10) SOUND REFLECTIVE BARRIERS TO A HEIGHT OF 4M; (11) SECURITY FENCING AND GATES; AND ALL ASSOCIATED ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT, SERVICES AND CLEARANCE WORKS INCLUDING TREE FELLING OF C.4.7HA OF CONIFER PLANTATION; LANDSCAPING AND PLANTING. THE PROPOSED LDES FACILITY WILL BE OPERATIONAL FOR A PERIOD OF 30 YEARS