Battery Energy Storage Compound, Woodpark and Leitrim

Application details

Planning reference

2560794

Council

Clare County Council

Proposal description

The proposed development, on an overall site of 3.58 hectares, will consist of: A co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Compound with associated internal access tracks; Access to the proposed BESS compound will be from the R466 local road and will consist of the use of an existing quarry entrance in the townland of Leitrim which will be upgraded as permitted as part of the Fahy Beg Wind Farm (under Clare County Council Ref: 23148 & ACP Ref 317227); Installation of grid code compliance equipment to facilitate an under-the-fence connection to the adjacent Fahy Beg 38kV substation. The grid code compliance equipment will include: Backup Generator, Neutral Earthing Resistor (NER), Auxiliary House Transformer, Marshalling Kiosks; 3 no. spare parts shipping containers (measuring 12.2 m (L) x 2.4 m (W) x 2.6 m (H)); and Associated ancillary development. Installation of 32 no. Battery Energy Storage Units comprising metal shipping containers housing batteries (measuring 6 m (L) x 2.4 m (W) and 2.9 m (H) each), and associated ancillary control and ventilation units; Installation of 8 no. Medium Voltage (MV) Inverter Stations comprising metal shipping containers housing the inverter, MV transformer, and an MV-LV room (measuring 6 m (L) x 2.4 m (W) and 2.9 m (H) each); Installation of 1 no. water storage tank (measuring 5.15 m (L) x 4.15 m(W) x 2.58 m (H)); Construction of 250m of new access tracks; Provision of a crane hardstanding area to facilitate lifting operations on site (280m2); Provision of 10 no. car parking spaces (8 no. standard parking spaces, and 2 no. accessible parking spaces); Reprofiling of the existing cut slope embankment with the erection of a gabion basket retaining wall measuring 75m in length and 2.5m in height, and construction of a reinforced fill slope embankment; Underground electrical and communications cabling; Security lighting, CCTV and communications mast; Provision of 150m of Sound reflective barriers; Security fencing and gates; Drainage system including on-site surface water attenuation ponds; Tree felling of 0.19 Ha (1,890m2) to facilitate required clearance for BESS compound, associated earthworks and drainage infrastructure; Removal of 109m of hedgerow to facilitate development of the BESS compound, and replanting of 109m at perimeter locations; and All associated ancillary site development and vegetation clearance works including landscaping and hedgerow reinstatement. The Applicant requests that the development be

Location / address

Within the townlands of Woodpark TD and Leitrim TD, near Bridgetown, Co. Clare

Application type

PERMISSION

Received / registered

12 Dec 2025

Valid date

12 Dec 2025

Council decision

Conditional

Council decision date

19 Mar 2026

Appeal lodged

15 Apr 2026