Roscommon County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Knockmurry, Castlerea, 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 18 February 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

Permission for a ten year planning permission is being sought for the proposed development which will consist of the following elements: the installation and operation of 1 no. battery energy storage system compound containing battery energy storage containers, 1 no. electrical substation and compound, connected to the national grid system via c. 50m of underground cable to the ESB Castlerea 38kV substation, electrical transformers and inverter units, underground cabling and ducting, boundary fencing, security entrance gates, CCTV, internal access road, associated ancillary site development, landscaping and reinstatement works. The operational lifespan of the development will be 35 years. The site of the proposed development has a total area of 0.644 hectares at