Dublin City Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Dubli, Dublin

In context

There were 59 nationally in the past twelve months. 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 28 August 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Dublin City Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

The proposed development will consist of a battery energy storage system (BESS) located within a fenced compound and will (subject to detailed design, commercial and technical considerations) comprise of 1. Up to 60 no. battery energy storage enclosures, split across 6 no. bays, each bay contains 2 no. rows of 5 no. enclosures. Each bay is on a concrete plinth of width c. 6.5 m and a maximum length of c. 47 m. Each battery enclosure will incorporate battery packs as well as power electronics, battery management systems, cooling units and fire suppression systems. 2. 6 No. Medium Voltage (MV) Skids , twin Inverter Skids (c. 12.8m x 6m x 2.4m) and associated bunds and fire walls. 3. Control building (c. 222 sq.m). 4. Ancillary plant and equipment comprising of a) A firefighting water tank (c. 9.75m high) and pumphouse (c. 17 sq.m) b) 2 no. Auxiliary Transformers (c. 2m x 2m x 2m) and associated bunds and fire walls c) 3 no. spare parts stores (20ft containers) (c. 15 sq.m each) d) 2 no. backup diesel generator plinths (c. 28.7 sq.m each) e) HV compound including 2 no. Grid step-up transformers (c. 5.7m x 3.3m x 2.8m and c. 6.6m x 5.5m x 5.1m), associated bunds and fire walls, and all other associated equipment including prefabricated electrical control room (c. 51 sq.m), linking with an underground cable and f) An underground fire water retention tank and underground attenuation tank. 5. Operation and Maintenance site offices including welfare facilities (c. 27.9 sq.m) 6. All service connections including electrical, potable water and connections to surface water drains 7. 1 no. lightning monopole (c. 18m high) and 8. All other ancillary site clearance and development works including provision of areas of hardstanding, internal access roads lighting and CCTV, laydown area, fencing and access gates (c. 3.5m in height), car parking; and connections to site services and networks. Planning permission is being sought for a duration of 10-years.