THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING WOP STATION (AS APPROVED UNDER OFFALY COUNTY COUNCIL REF. 01/187 / AN BORD PLEANÁLA REF…

Application details

Planning reference

22223

Council

Offaly County Council

Proposal description

THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING WOP STATION (AS APPROVED UNDER OFFALY COUNTY COUNCIL REF. 01/187 / AN BORD PLEANÁLA REF. PL 19.125575 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT PERMISSIONS); AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF ELECTRICITY GRID SERVICES — NAMELY A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) AND A SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER (SYNC CON). THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT COMPRISES TWO DISTINCT PHASES OF ACTIVITY. PHASE 1 COMPRISES THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING SITE STRUCTURES (WITH A TOTAL FOOTPRINT OF C. 1 3, 124 SQ.M. AND A TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA OFC. 28,000 SQ.M.) INCLUDING THE FORMER WOP STATION, THE INTERMEDIATE PEAT STORAGE BUILDING AND ASSOCIATED FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; AND ANCILLARY BUILDINGS INCLUDING: ELECTRICAL TIPPLER AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL ROOM AND OFFICE, SCREENING, LORRY UNLOADING, WATER TREATMENT PLANT, OFFICES, LABORATORY, WORKSHOP AND MAINTENANCE BUILDINGS, OIL PUMPHOUSE, ELECTRICS ROOMS, RAILWAY / LOCOMOTIVE SERVICE BUILDING, COOLING WATER PUMP HOUSE AND SEWAGE / FOUL WATER TREATMENT FACILITY. ALL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES WILL BE DEMOLISHED TO GROUND LEVEL, AND THE SITE WILL BE REINSTATED AND SECURED WITH BOUNDARY GATES AND FENCES, ETC. ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEMOLITION ACTIVITY THERE WILL BE ON-SITE CRUSHING OF MATERIAL USING MOBILE MACHINERY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISPOSAL AND / OR MATERIAL RE-USE. PHASE 2 COMPRISES THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE BESS, SYNC CON; AND ALL ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT. THE BESS WILL COMPRISE A 75 MW CAPACITY BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY LOCATED WITHIN FENCED AND GATED COMPOUND AND WILL INCLUDE UP TO 22 NO. BATTERY STORAGE UNITS INCORPORATING A CONCRETE BASE, BATTERY MODULES, ASSOCIATED PLANT AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDING TRANSFORMERS AND INVERTERS A 240 SQ.M. SINGLE-STOREY CONTROL BUILDING; THE SYNC CON WILL COMPRISE A 400 MVA SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSER LOCATED WITHIN A C. 0.7 HA COMPOUND AND WILL INCLUDE A SYNC CON BUILDING (C. 962 SQ.M., C. 14 M HIGH). INCLUDING A MAINTENANCE LAYDOWN AREA; AND A CHAINLINK OR PALISADE FENCE AND ACCESS GATE LINKING WITH THE EXISTING STATION ROADS. BOTH DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE SERVED BY GRID CONNECTIONS, BOUNDARY FENCES AND GATES, AND LANDSCAPING. EXISTING ACCESS ROADS WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED TO SERVE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND WILL NOT BE ALTERED. SITE SERVICES —AND A 20 KV RURAL SUPPLY CIRCUIT BREAKER BUILDING (C. 18 SQ.M.), WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED TO SERVE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. PLANNING PERMISSION IS SOUGHT FOR A DURATION OF 10 YEARS. (FULL DETAILED DESCRIPTION IN ATTACHED APPENDIX A)

Location / address

35.5 HA SITE KNOWN AS 'WEST OFFALY POWER (WOP) STATION' LOCATED AT SHANNONBRIDGE IN THE TOWNLAND OF CLONIFFEEN, EIRCODE N37 C840 CO. OFFALY

Application type

PERMISSION

Received / registered

5 May 2022

Council decision

CONDITIONAL

Council decision date

18 Jan 2023

Final grant date

23 Feb 2023