Main pic: Locals gather at the proposed site of the planned Ballynahone Energy Storage plant.
A local community in Inishowen has launched a campaign against proposals to construct Europe’s first ‘iron-air’ battery storage project in the area.
Future Ireland Development has lodged plans with Donegal County Council for 248 shipping containers at Ballynahone, Buncrana. The proposed ‘Ballynahone Energy Storage,’ will be the company’s first battery storage project and, they said, the first of its kind in Europe.
The site will have a total surface area of 7.1 acres (2.9 hectares) and include a substation, transformers and fencing.
However, locals have launched a campaign to stop the ‘unwanted’ development in the Buncrana and Fahan area.
“Please help us spread the word on this proposed and unwelcome project in the Buncrana/Fahan area,” read a post on the Buncrana – Fahan Against Untested Battery Storage Facebook page.
“Please note in the plans submitted, the absence of the local houses,” the post added.
“248 shipping containers to look at out of our windows, similar in size to 10.5 soccer pitches. Along with destroying wildlife habitats and possible water contamination to the Crana River, it will also destroy the natural beauty of the area and would be an unwelcome eyesore, devaluing the land in the local area. This is only a small portion of the land that they plan to purchase subject to planning, so it’s likely more will be added.”
A computer generated image of what the proposed Ballynahone Energy Storage plant might look like. Image: FutureEnergyIreland.ie
FuturEnergy Ireland, a joint venture company between Coillte and ESB, said the project is designed to use iron-air battery technology capable OF discharging energy at its full power output for up to 100 hours when fully charged.
“This breakthrough technology has the potential to absorb enormous amounts of surplus Irish renewable energy during times of high output and provide the renewable power back into the Irish grid system when it is needed most: for example, during extended periods of extreme weather, grid outages or low renewable generation,” a spokesperson for FutureEnergy said.
“The battery will also simultaneously relieve grid congestion issues faced by wind and solar projects, reducing the need for new overhead power lines.”
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