Decision due on battery storage development

A decision is expected early next week on a planning application for a battery energy storage development in Ballaghaderreen.

Permission is being sought by Grid System Services Limited, for a 10-year permission to develop an Energy Storage System, which will connect to the adjoining ESB Tonroe 110kV Electricity Substation at Ballyoughter, Ballaghaderreen.

The proposed development, if granted permission, will have a projected life span of 35 years. The development will consist of the construction of an enclosed battery energy storage system within a site compound on a total of up to c. 2.33 hectare site, to include: a 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); and up to 11 transformer and inverter units.

The application also includes plans for access tracks and site entrance along the 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.

A large number of submissions were made in opposition to Roscommon County Council granting permission.

Local Cllr Michael Frain in his submission stated that the access road to this proposed development goes through a private residential estate. “This road is not suitable for any further traffic load and is currently at full capacity. Any further increase in traffic would cause additional risk to an already extremely busy area. At the request of residents we have recently installed speed bumps to slow traffic in the estate. The developers of this project have made no effort to deal with any of these concerns since their previous application.” 

He added, “The risk of fire and explosion at this site remains real and no effort has been made to mitigate this risk. No secondary access point has been made in this application for emergency services such as the fire service and the National Ambulance Service. As local councillor for this area and having served over a quarter of a century as station officer for the fire service, I ask you to reject this application on the grounds of which I have highlighted.” 

A decision is expected within the coming days.