Meath County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Silloge, Navan, Co. Meath

In context

It is the only battery storage application Meath County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 60 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 21 February 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 Meath County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

the development will consist of 10 year planning permission for the construction of a 1. enclosed battery energy storage system compound on a total of up to c. 2.63 hectare site which will be located in the the townland of Silloge, c. 5km north of the settlement of Navan, Co. Meath and will consist of the following elements: • 1 no. Substation Compound, Substation Building and associated electrical equipment; • 35 battery units set inside storage blocks on concrete support structures including heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC units); • transformer and inverter units; • including access tracks and site entrance along with upgrade words on the public roads (c.450m); • associated electrical cabling and ducting; • security gates and c. 2.6m palisade perimeter security fencing; • CCTV system; • landscaping works; • and all other ancillary and miscellaneous site works including site clearance; site access, internal roads and development of areas of hard standing including a maintenance lay-down area; • c.110m of underground cabling ducts and cable to the neighbouring ESB substation