Renewable Energy Solutions Ltd (RES Ltd) has appealed a Donegal County Council decision to refuse planning permission for a battery energy storage system at N13 Listillion, Letterkenny. The proposed facility would house approximately 50 shipping containers on a 15.7-acre site to balance electricity supply and demand for Eirgrid, according to company developers.
Why did Donegal County Council refuse the battery plant?
Planners cited road safety and infrastructure conflicts as the primary reasons for the refusal. The Donegal National Roads Office advised that the N13 access point the development relies on will be permanently closed under the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project.
According to the council, the application failed to provide adequate future access arrangements once that project is delivered. The council further stated the development directly affects lands associated with the TEN-T route.
What are the specific plans for the Listillion site?
The application, lodged by Peter Henry on behalf of RES Ltd, outlines a high-capacity electrical compound. The site would include battery storage enclosures (BSEs), power conversion systems on concrete supports, and an electrical transformer/inverter station.
To connect to the existing 110kv Letterkenny substation, the plan includes an indicative 110kv buried import/export cable and a corresponding substation. Other site works involve attenuation ponds, palisade security fencing, CCTV, and lighting poles.
The proposal also included plans to upgrade the Glenmaquinn/Convoy junction, which the developers characterized as dangerous.
How has the local community responded to the proposal?
The project faced significant pushback during the initial planning phase. The Listillion Community Group submitted a formal objection stating they represent the “coordinated concerns” of adjacent landowners and residents.
In their submission, the group described the proposal as a “high-risk industrial energy development” and argued it is situated in an “inappropriate and sensitive rural location.” They claimed the opposition to the site is both widespread and substantive.
What happens next in the appeal process?
The case now moves to An Coimisiún Pleanála, the national planning authority. They will review the council’s refusal against the developer’s arguments regarding the facility’s role in the “decarbonisation of electricity supply.”
The outcome will likely hinge on whether the developer can resolve the access conflicts identified by the Donegal National Roads Office regarding the N13 and the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a battery energy storage system (BESS)?
It is a technology that stores electricity from the grid or renewable sources and releases it when demand is high, helping to stabilize the power grid.
Who is the developer of the Letterkenny plant?
The project is proposed by Renewable Energy Solutions Ltd (RES Ltd), an international renewable energy firm.
Where exactly is the proposed site?
The 15.7-acre site is located at N13 Listillion, on the edge of Letterkenny, near the main Letterkenny-Stranorlar road.
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