Major battery storage station planned near Cloghan
A planning application has been submitted to Offaly County Council for the proposed development of a 75MW Battery Energy Storage Station (BESS) with 80-104 battery containers, on a site three kilometres east of Cloghan.
Bord na Móna Powergen Ltd lodged the planning application with the local authority on September 25, seeking approval for the proposed development of a modular BESS facility with a footprint of approximately 1.6 hectares beside the existing Stonestown 110kV substation in the townlands of Coolreagh or Cloghanhill, Cortullagh or Grove, Stonestown, and Lumcloon.
The proposed development also includes an associated electrical compound consisting of a low voltage operations compound including one single storey control and operational building, electrical plant and equipment, cabling, lighting, CCTV, lightning masts, a backup diesel generator and diesel storage tank and operations and maintenance storage containers.
The application for the BESS facility submitted to Offaly County Council is seeking approval for a ten year planning permission and for a 35-year energy storage operational period.
A planning and environmental report submitted with the planning application by consultants Jennings O’Donovan & Partners Ltd, on behalf of the applicants, said the proposed development is “entirely within the boundary of the Derrinlough Wind Farm” which was officially opened in April following a €150m investment.
The proposed development, located on lands owned by Bord na Mona Energy Limited, is in a “sparsely populated” area, “approximately 260 metres from any dwellings” and the N62 is located 320m to the west of the site.
In their report, the consultants stated that the site’s proximity to Stonestown 110KV substation and to the national grid, has made this “an ideal location” for the proposed development.
“BESS facilities provide a means of allowing electricity from the grid to be imported and stored at times of low demand and high generation, which can then be exported back into the grid at times of higher demand.
“Battery storage is a key part of this energy strategy and provides the national grid with balancing services to help accommodate the increasing level of renewable energy generation. By importing excess renewable energy from the grid and storing it, batteries can capture energy that would otherwise be lost,”
“There is a particular need for electricity storage infrastructure in the Midlands of Ireland, where increasing volumes of renewable generation are placing pressure on the transmission network,” the report added.
The consultants confirmed that prior to submission of the planning application, a letter and development map were issued to all residents in close proximity to the proposed development by the applicant between March and April 2026.
“A designated BnM Community Liaison Officer (CLO) has been assigned to the project to address any concerns or questions from the local community,” the report added.
A decision on the planning application is due from Offaly County Council on or before November 19.