Battery energy storage plant proposed at Coolreagh or Cloghanhill, Cortullagh or Grove, Co. Offaly

In context

It is one of 5 battery storage applications Offaly County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 56 nationally. Of the 69 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 80% were granted.

What happens next

Anyone can make a submission or observation to Offaly County Council until 29 October 2026, for a fee of €20. Only those who make a submission can later appeal the decision. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

How to make a submission

The development description, as lodged

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

The Proposed Development includes the following: • A battery energy storage system (BESS) facility, comprising battery containers with integrated heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) units, transformers, inverters, underground cabling, associated control rooms, internal access routes, lighting, CCTV, lightning masts, fencing; • An associated Electrical Compound consisting of: o A low voltage operations compound including one single storey control and operational building, o Electrical plant and equipment, o Cabling, lighting, CCTV, lightning masts; o A backup diesel generator and diesel storage tank; and o Operations and maintenance storage containers. • A high voltage electrical yard comprising outdoor electrical plant and associated infrastructure; • An underground high voltage electrical cable to facilitate a connection to the existing adjacent Stonestown 110kV substation, with an over the fence connection representing the preferred connection strategy; •A peat and spoil area for excavated peat generated during construction of the Proposed Development. Materials stored within the peat and spoil area will be retained within the Proposed Development over its operational lifetime; •Associated landscaping, drainage, and all ancillary works necessary to facilitate the construction, operation and maintenance of the Proposed Development; •Construction of 1 no. Temporary Construction Compound with associated temporary site offices, staff parking area, welfare facilities, and security fencing; •Ancillary forestry felling to facilitate construction and operation of the Proposed Development; •A planning permission duration of 10 years from the date of grant for construction of the Proposed Development; and •An anticipated operational life of 35 years from the date of commissioning of the entire Proposed Development. Certain details of the Proposed Development are unconfirmed in the planning application, and an opinion on unconfirmed details from Offaly County Council pursuant to Section 32H(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) accompanies this planning application. The details unconfirmed in this application are battery height, length and number of battery containers. The range of parameters under which the battery storage will fall are specified in the design flexibility opinion that accompanies this application. The planning application is also accompanied by a Natura Impact Stateme