Roscommon County Council refuses permission for battery energy storage plant at Ballyoughter, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon

In context

It is one of 5 battery storage applications Roscommon 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 6 November 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 Roscommon County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission is sought for Grid System Services Limited, applying for a 10 year permission to develop an Energy Storage System, which will connect to the nearby ESB Tonroe 110kV Electricity Substation on land at Ballyoughter, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. The proposed development will have a projected life span of 35 years. The development will consist of the construction of 1) enclosed battery energy storage system within a site compound on a total of up to c.2.33 hectare site, to include: 1 no. single storey 110kV customer substation, control and switch rooms; up to 44 battery blocks on concrete support structures including heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC units); up to 11 transformer and inverter units; including access tracks and site entrance along existing roadway; associated electrical cabling and ducting; security gates, 2.6m palisade perimeter security fencing; CCTV system; landscaping works and all other associated ancillary infrastructure at