Major Mayo projects get go-ahead

Two major technological developments for the former Asahi site in Killala have received planning approval from Mayo County Council.

The local authority has given the green light to US-based investment firm AVAIO Digital for a data centre and to SSE Renewables for the construction of a battery energy storage system (BESS) facility.

The planned data centre will be a two-storey building covering 29,076 square metres including data halls, electrical and mechanical plant rooms and other associated ancillary works.

In a statement to the Western People, AVAIO Digital said they welcomed the council’s decision.

“The announcement today to grant planning permission for our County Mayo Data Hub campus is a welcome step in creating a new economic opportunity in the West of Ireland.

“The Mayo Data Hub will support AI and cloud development in the West and provide unique employment opportunities through planned partnerships with Irish universities, creating new data centre-focused curricula and supporting research in the uses of artificial intelligence across multiple sectors.”

The company added that its design will leverage “abundant wind energy” in the West.

“Much of this wind energy is often curtailed during windy periods due to the lack of adequate transmission infrastructure and our design will provide an economic use for these otherwise wasted green electrons on the former Asahi industrial site in Killala.”

It said the project will create more than 300 jobs during construction, which may begin in early 2026, and provide a basis for more sustainable development of the industrial site on an ongoing basis.

“The campus will provide a significant boost to the economy of Mayo and to the West in general. We look forward to partnering with the community as we take this project to the next stages.”

The data centre attracted much debate and attention during the planning assessment with bestselling Mayo author Sally Rooney among the objectors while Mayo Green Party chairperson Micheál O’Connell welcomed the development.

Meanwhile, planning permission was also granted to SSE Renewables for the BESS at its site in Tawnaghmore Upper where the company also operates a power station.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device that charges (or collects energy) from the grid or a power plant and then discharges that energy at a later time to provide electricity or other grid services when needed. SSE Renewables said the new facility would power over 75,000 Irish homes for up to two hours at a time.

Should construction begin as planned in 2026, it may be completed by 2028.