Fire fears spark fresh questions over Buncrana’s big battery storage farm

FuturEnergy, the company behind the proposed battery storage plant near Buncrana, has been asked to provide a significant amount of further documentation by An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is considering objections to the facility.

Specifically, it has been asked to provide details of its fire prevention and fire response strategy; explain how it will source large volumes of water within the seven-acre site for use by firefighters; and produce a revised Environmental Impact Assessment for the project.

Twelve months ago, Donegal County Council approved an application from FuturEnergy - a joint enterprise formed by semi-state companies ESB and Coillte - for the first iron-air battery storage system of its kind in Europe.

Upgrades to the national grid, including significant storage capacity, are required as Ireland works to meet its legally binding commitment of achieving a climate-neutral electricity system by 2050.

If it proceeds, the ‘Long Duration Energy Storage Facility’ will occupy a seven-acre site at Ballynahone, a townland between Buncrana and Fahan, and comprise of 248 metal storage containers housing batteries capable of storing up to 1,000 megawatts of power for release to the national grid when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

However, objections from local residents, through the Buncrana/Fahan Against Untested Battery Storage Group, and from serial environmental objector Peter Sweetman, were lodged with the national planning authority in December with a decision initially due by April of this year.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has since apologised to the applicant for missing a number of deadlines owing to a large backlog of planning cases.

Read more: Report from public meeting opposing battery storage plan in October 2024

In September, the Commission wrote to FuturEnergy seeking extensive additional information, particularly relating to fire risk and mitigation measures, which it says is necessary to help determine whether to uphold the Council’s November 2025 grant of planning permission or to side with the objectors who oppose it.

In addition to seeking information on certification standards and the chemical composition of the electrolytes within the iron-air batteries, An Coimisiún has asked that explosion-risk modelling be undertaken, along with details of how much hydrogen gas will be produced at the facility and how that gas will be vented and managed.

It has also asked the company to draw up a fire-risk management plan, revise site drawings to provide a perimeter ring road with access for fire-brigade vehicles, and demonstrate how fire breaks between the battery storage containers and the surrounding forest will be provided and maintained.

FuturEnergy has also been asked to provide details of the volume of firefighting water required to deal with an incident and how that water would be stored on site. Given the large quantities of water that would be needed in the event of a fire, the company has been asked to carry out a Natura Impact Assessment to examine how the run-off of contaminated fire water could affect the surrounding environment.

A revised Environmental Impact Assessment screening statement has also been requested, outlining the characteristics of the proposed development, its likely significant effects on the environment, and how any adverse impacts would be avoided, prevented or reduced.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has given FuturEnergy until 3 December to provide the information requested.

Having already missed two deadlines, An Coimisiún Pleanála is no longer offering a timeline for when it will resolve this objection one way or the other.