Residents object to battery storage facility in Cork village

Locals in Knockraha on the outskirts of Cork City fear explosions, fire, and pollution if batteries the size of shipping containers are stored there

Knockraha is in the process of getting cabling and a substation building as part of the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector.

Almost an entire rural community has lodged an objection to An Bord Pleanála over permission granted by Cork County Council for a major battery storage facility on the outskirts of Cork City.

People living in Knockraha are concerned about the massive ‘energy hub’ being created in their area and what they fear is the potential for explosions, fire and pollution which could come with that.

The village is in the process of getting cabling and a substation building as part of the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector, which will supply Ireland with electricity from France and will be fed in-to the national grid at the existing electricity sub station there.

Cork County Council recently granted a 10-year permission for Neoen Renewables Ireland Limited to build a battery storage facility at Ballynanelagh, Knockraha.

The batteries, which are the size of shipping containers, are used to store electricity derived from wind and solar farms until needed for the national grid.

Appeal lodged

Locals say they are extremely concerned and many have lodged an appeal to Bord Pleanála, including the local community council.

Knockraha Community Association chairman Eddie Mackessy said the proposed location was quite close to the national school and a number of houses.

“There is also a creche nearby. We’re concerned because what would happen if there was a fire there or if the batteries leaked,” Mr Mackessy said.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Sheila O’Callaghan said at first she did not realise the size of the batteries which will, if planning proceeds, will be stored on a three hectare site.

“The concerns aired [by locals] have been around potential explosion and fire. The poor road infrastructure in and around the proposed site was another concern in the event of an emergency taking place there,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“I regularly travel on the road adjoining the proposed site in Ballynanelagh as this is also the location of the Celtic Interconnector condenser currently under construction. The residents in this area have had constant destruction and construction over the past few years. The Celtic Interconnector cable had been laid along the road verge last autumn causing diversions and much disruption. 

"Thankfully, the road surface was reinstated but the verges were left unsuitable for walkers and vehicles to pull in to allow passing,” she said.

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Ms O’Callaghan added the proposed site for the battery storage facility was on good agricultural land with some low lying parts waterlogged at times.

“I think the general public are misled by the term battery storage as it conjures up the image of something the size of a car battery. As I pointed out at a Cork County Council meeting in July, each battery is the size of a shipping container," she said.