Major new energy facility planned for Mayo town
The facility will be located in the North Mayo town of Killala.
Plans have been revealed for a major battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Mayo.
SSE Renewables has revealed that it is submitting a planning application for a 80MW facility on a site adjacent to the Killala Business Park. The company already has a 104MW power station on the site in the townland of Tawnaghmore Upper.
The company says the new facility, to be known as the Mullafarry battery storage project, would power over 75,000 Irish homes for up to two hours at a time.
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.
Planning permission for a battery storage facility at this site was previously granted by Mayo County Council in 2018, but that consent has expired. SSE Renewables says the proposal would include an improved project design and increased battery capacity of between 26 and 38 battery storage units at the site.
"Battery energy storage systems have a vital role to play in helping Ireland to balance power supply while decarbonising the energy system," said the company in a statement. "Battery technology can store the increasing levels of renewable energy generated from sources like wind and solar when they are in surplus and then supply that power back to the grid when it is needed the most."
If approved for delivery, the proposed Mullafarry BESS project would be available to provide battery-stored energy for up to two hours during times of peak demand, helping power homes and businesses across Ireland while providing network balancing services to help ensure the proper functioning of the national grid.
The company says the proposed project would also be expected to lead to increased local employment during construction and to create supply chain opportunities for the area.
Ghislain Demeuldre, Ireland Head of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery Development, SSE Renewables, said:
“Through the development of innovative projects like the Mullafarry battery energy storage system, we’re adding to SSE’s growing energy infrastructure pipeline in County Mayo, which includes Glenora Wind Farm and the consented Sheskin South Wind Farm, both of which we are co-developing with FuturEnergy Ireland.
"Mayo, and the North-west, has an enormous wind energy resource, and these critical projects can help ensure Mayo continues to play a key role in providing homegrown energy for Irish consumers while decarbonising the national power grid.
“Along with wind generation, battery storage projects like Mullafarry are a key part of the energy jigsaw. They provide the ability to store power in times of surplus generation and release it when it’s needed the most. Delivery of our proposed Mullafarry BESS project would provide Ireland’s energy system with additional grid-scale battery storage capacity, allowing us to store excess renewable energy for use when it’s later needed by Irish homes and businesses at times of peak demand. And in doing so, we can continue to ensure essential energy projects help bring positive social and economic benefits to County Mayo and the West of Ireland.”
The development of the Mullafarry BESS project adds to SSE’s portfolio of operational energy assets and planned energy infrastructure in Mayo and neighbouring counties. SSE Thermal operates the existing Tawnaghmore Power Station, which is situated adjacent to the site for the proposed Mullafarry battery storage project and plays a key role in maintaining Ireland’s security of energy supply. Also in North Mayo, SSE Renewables and co-development partner FuturEnergy Ireland’s are jointly progressing plans for the Glenora and Sheskin South wind farms projects. In neighbouring Sligo, SSE Renewables is progressing a new wind energy project at the site of the existing Dunneill and Kingsmountain wind farms – the proposed Crumhach Wind Farm.
Final delivery of Mullafarry BESS is subject to the project receiving the necessary planning consent and a final investment decision by SSE. Subject to these approvals, it is hoped construction could commence in 2026 with project completion expected in 2028.
