Minor modifications and reconfigurations to the previously permitted Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development…

Application details

Planning reference

21/6856

Council

Cork County Council

Proposal description

Minor modifications and reconfigurations to the previously permitted Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development (Cork County Council Reg Ref. 19/04891), primarily comprising: (1) Updated layout of the substation compound based on revised electrical requirements to facilitate grid connection; (2) revised battery equipment based on updated battery technology; and (3) ancillary equipment to support the BESS development. The amended design incorporates: a 159 MW capacity BESS facility located within a secured compound, on a c. 3.3 Ha site, and will include: (a) 36 No. battery container unit arrangements on concrete plinths (95 sq.m.; height of 3m); (b) 36 No. inverter / transformer / RMU unit arrangements on concrete plinths (50 sq.m.; height of 4.2m); (c) a substation compound surrounded by a 2.6 m high palisade fence with a dedicated access gate containing: 2 No. control building (c. 240 sq.m. 5.1m high ) and electrical plant including: 2 No. bunded house transformers (c. 200 sq.m. surrounded by 8m high fire wall); 2 No. bunded house transformers (c. 19.8 sq.m. surrounded by 3 m high fire wall) and 2 No. VAR support units on concrete plinths (24 sq.m., 3.4 m high); (d) a 2.6 m high palisade fence and access gate, with primary access via the existing station and internal roadway network and temporary access via the existing boundary onto the R630; (e) ancillary plant equipment and structures including lightning masts (c. 18 m high) and pole mounted CCTV cameras (c. 8.3 m high) and ancillary site works including site clearance works and the installation of site services including underground cables. The planning permission is being sought for a 10 year duration. Licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency under an Industrial Emissions (IE) License [Ref. P0561-05] and a Lower Tier COMAH site and therefore falls under the requirements of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH) Regulations, 2015.

Location / address

Lands to the east of the R630 in the townlands of Ballincarroonig, located inside the Aghada Generating Station, Ballincarroonig, Whitegate Co. Cork

Applicant

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB)

Agent

Andrew Morrow

Application type

Permission

Received / registered

22 Oct 2021

Valid date

4 Nov 2021

Council decision

Conditional Permission

Council decision date

14 Dec 2021

Final grant date

27 Jan 2022

Grid reference

184196.88, 64504.47