Aghada LDES Battery Energy Storage Project

Application details

Planning reference

26/2190

Council

Cork County Council

Proposal description

Electricity Supply Board (ESB) intend to apply for Permission for development at this site of 4.65 hectares at Ballincarroonig, Aghada, County Cork, within the wider ESB landholding. The development will consist of the "Aghada LDES" (Aghada Long Duration Energy Storage) project comprising a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of up to 300 MW. It comprises a fenced compound containing a BESS compound and Customer HV Compound. Specifically, the BESS compound will feature up to 200 No. 20 ft battery energy storage system (BESS) enclosures and up to 20 No. Medium Voltage (MV) Skids / Twin Inverter Skids and associated bunds. Associated ancillary equipment includes 1 no. MV switchgear building, 1 no. Control Building, 5 no. LV Switchgear Containers, a fire water tank and pumphouse, Operation and Maintenance site offices (O&M portacabin) including welfare facilities, 3 no. spare parts stores (20-40 ft containers), 1 no. backup diesel generator plinth, an underground fire water retention tank, a surface water soakaway, harmonics structure (if required following testing of equipment), all services connections including electrical, potable water and connections to surface water drains, external lighting poles, CCTV, lighting monopole. The proposed Customer HV Compound will comprise Grid Step-up Transformers and associated bunds and fire walls, 5 No. Auxiliary Transformers and associated bunds, associated electrical equipment including current transformers/voltage transformers (CT/VT) Circuit Breakers, Neutral Earth Resistors, Cable Chairs, and Line Earth Disconnects, external lighting poles, CCTV, lightning monopole. The development proposal also includes a new site access road from the existing Aghada station, access gate, palisade fencing to secure both compounds (2.6m high) and all ancillary site clearance and development works including provision of areas of hard standing, internal access roads, laydown area, car parking and connections to site services and networks. The proposed development is located within the wider ESB Aghada Generating Station complex, which operates under EPA Industrial Emissions Licence Ref. P0561-05 and is a notified Lower Tier COMAH / Seveso establishment. A COMAH Land Use Planning Assessment has been submitted with the application. The proposed BESS development itself is not a COMAH establishment and does not comprise an activity requiring an Industrial Emissions Licence.

Location / address

The townland of Ballincarroonig, Aghada, Co. Cork, within the wider ESB landholding

Applicant

Electricity Supply Board (ESB)

Agent

Maria Rochford

Application type

Permission

Received / registered

21 Aug 2026

Ward / district

Municipal Districts: Municipal District of East Cork

Grid reference

584316, 564591