Go-ahead for Buncrana energy storage project after strong opposition

Donegal County Council has granted planning permission for the development of Europe’s first iron-air battery storage project at a site outside Buncrana.

The local authority has given the go-ahead to FuturEnergy Ireland to build the facility, which would cover seven acres, on a site at Ballynahone subject to 37 conditions.

The project, which would be operational for 30 years, involves 248 battery energy storage units in the form of metal shipping containers.

The plans have attracted strong local opposition. Dozens of objections were lodged against the development and almost 1,600 people registered their opposition through petitions.

More than 150 attended a public meeting in Buncrana voicing opposition to the development last month.

Concerns have included fears that the technology involved has not been used on such a scale before and the project will destroy wildlife habitats, could cause water contamination and will be an unwelcome eyesore. 

FutureEnergy Ireland Development DAC, a joint venture between Coillte and the ESB - sought a 10-year permission for the development of the long duration energy storage compound.

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The company says the new form of​ multi-day storage is safe and has the potential to absorb enormous amounts of surplus renewable energy and provide the renewable power back into the Irish grid system when during extended periods of extreme weather, grid outages or low renewable generation.

In its decision, Donegal County Council said there are “no  health and safety issues associated with the proposal” and that it “will not have a significant impact on the local environment”.

“The proposal is sustainable in nature and will assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable energy infrastructure as part of Ireland’s pathway to net zero emissions by 2050,” the local authority said. 

Planners said the proposal “will not negatively impact on water quality due to the use of SuDS, silt traps and silt protection controls”, adding that there is “no evidence to suggest that there will be any adverse impact on food sources for birds or fish”.

In response to concerns in objections about the technology involved, the local authority said iron-air batteries, while newer in large-scale applications, are based on well-established chemical principles and have undergone rigorous testing.