Mayo County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Kilala, Co. Mayo

In context

It is one of 4 battery storage applications Mayo 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 24 April 2025. 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 Mayo County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

The development will consist of the following elements: • Battery Energy Storage System facility, consisting of battery containers with integrated HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) units, transformers, inverters, underground cabling, associated control rooms, internal access routes, lighting, CCTV, lightning masts, fencing; • Associated Electrical Compound consisting of: Low voltage operations compound including one (1) single storey control and operational building, electrical plant, cabling, lighting, CCTV, lightning masts, diesel generator and diesel tank, operations and maintenance containers and stores; • High voltage electrical yard comprising outdoor electrical plant and associated compound; • Underground high voltage electrical cable to facilitate a connection to the existing adjacent 110kV Tawnaghmore substation; • Associated landscaping, drainage, decommissioning of existing septic tank and all ancillary works necessary to facilitate the development A 10-year permission is sought in respect of the development. Certain details of the proposed development are unconfirmed in the planning application, and an opinion on unconfirmed details accompanies the application. The Tawnaghmore Power Station has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Industrial Emissions (IE) Licence (Reg, No. P0566-02).