Major Battery Energy compound proposed for Buncrana

Planning permission is being sought for a large-scale Long Duration Energy Storage facility between Buncrana and Quigley’s Point, designed to strengthen the reliability and efficiency of renewable power across Inishowen. 

Cliff Lane Limited has applied for a 10-year planning permission to develop a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound on a site of approximately 0.54 hectares, with an operational lifespan of up to 35 years. The core of the project is a long-duration energy storage system capable of storing electricity for between four and eight hours, with a maximum export capacity of around 5 megawatts.

The battery system will allow excess electricity to be stored during periods of low demand and released back to the grid when needed. In addition to energy storage, the system will be capable of providing System Services to ESB Networks, supporting the secure and efficient operation of Ireland’s electricity network.

The wider development will include battery storage containers, an electrical substation compound, transformers, inverter units, and a 50M underground cable connection to the ESB Crockahenny substation. Supporting infrastructure such as fencing, security entrance gates, CCTV, an access road, and landscaping is also included in the plans.

The site is located adjacent to Ireland’s oldest ESB wind farm in the townland of Crockahenny, which recently received planning permission for redevelopment, replacing ten older turbines with two modern, more efficient units. Together, these developments highlight the growing importance of the Inishowen area as a renewable energy hub.

The project falls under the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), aimed at accelerating the transition to cleaner energy systems across Europe. 

Central to the directive are mandatory timelines for the granting of permits across various project types, a move intended to streamline administrative procedures, reduce delays, and support the expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure

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A decision on the Long Duration Energy Storage facility is expected from Donegal County Council by mid-May.