A local councillor has called for tighter regulations on Battery Energy Storage Systems.
The issue came before the most recent meeting of Cavan County Council. Two of these large scale storage systems are currently under appeal with An Bórd Pleanála. Accelerate Renewables Ltd was granted planning permission for a 10-year permission to build an energy storage facility at Shankill Lower, Clonervy and one at Pottle, Ballinagh The operational lifetime of the proposed development is 35 years. Councillors at the most recent council meeting said that residents are concerned with the impact these developments would have on their local area.
Councillor John Paul Feeley says that having multiple bodies regulating one thing is also not helping the scenario, and called for one single body to oversee these systems.
"The main issue is the lack of clarity around how these are regulated. They are very large batteries, that's fine, they may be very safe, but with everything there is a certain element of risk. It may be a very small risk, but it's how that risk is addressed. Those are very important questions that need clarification and the very fact that the Minister came along and said that there are a number of bodies regulating, that, to me, is a concern".
