Approval for battery energy storage system in north Mayo
PLANNING approval has issued for a 80MW/160MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in north Mayo, capable of powering over 75,000 homes for up to two hours at a time.
The proposed Mullafarry battery storage project is to be located at an SSE-owned site in Tawnaghmore Upper, adjacent to the company’s existing 104MW Tawnaghmore Power Station at Killala Business Park.
This is the second major project for Killala granted permission by Mayo County Council in recent days, with a data centre proposal also getting the green light.
Planning for a battery storage facility at this site was granted in 2018, but that consent has expired and SSE Renewables' new application has an improved project design and increased battery capacity of between 26 and 38 battery storage units at the site.
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.
Previously the company highlighted how 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.
The Mullafarry project will also help balance electricity supply and demand, supporting Ireland’s transition to clean energy while also contributing to local economic development through jobs during construction and ongoing commercial rates payments to Mayo County Council.
Ghislain Demeuldre, Head of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery Development at SSE Renewables, said: “Battery projects like Mullafarry are essential to storing surplus renewable energy and strengthening grid reliability. We’re proud to continue investing in the west of Ireland and delivering clean energy infrastructure that benefits local communities and the wider energy system.
"The transition in our power sector is a crucial driver of economic activity across Ireland. Projects like Mullafarry BESS are vital in supporting this transition, enabling a more resilient and sustainable energy system that fosters both individual well-being and the collective good of the nation."
Mullafarry adds to SSE’s growing portfolio in the region, including the Glenora and Sheskin South wind farms, being co-developed with FuturEnergy Ireland, and the nearby Tawnaghmore Power Station. In Sligo, SSE is also 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 a final investment decision by SSE.
It is hoped construction could commence in 2026 with project completion expected in 2028.