Huge opposition submitted against Buncrana energy storage plans

Donegal County Council has received 68 submissions against the proposed development of Europe’s first iron-air battery storage project in Buncrana.

Objectors strongly oppose the plans to develop the facility at Ballynahone, which would be operational for 30 years.

Over 150 people attended a public meeting to oppose the project and the deadline for submissions on the plans closed in recent days.

The meeting heard concerns over the risk of fire, water contamination, the threat to wildlife and the proposed use of “untested” technology.

Almost 1,300 people have signed an online petition opposing the plans by Future Energy Ireland.

Submissions closed at the weekend and a vast swathe of objections have been submitted to the local authority.

The names of those who attended the public meeting and the online petition have also been submitted.

“Such a development consolidates the existence of the present windmills, which constitute a serious impairment of Buncrana's visual amenity,” one objector wrote.

“If the proposed experiment proved successful it could only constitute the vanguard of an even bigger proliferation of windmills and battery storage units.

“Therefore, I argue that my objection to the battery storage planning application must be taken in the perspective or view of a serious objection both to the present and future location of windmills on the Buncrana horizon. Together they damage the warp and weft of the amenity of this area.

“Some of Buncrana's visual amenity has already been seriously impaired by windmills on our horizons. The very first thing that greets one upon rounding the bend at Fahan heading for Buncrana is the sight of 12 or 15 giant windmills rotating against the skyline. It's like a scene from a dystopic science fiction movie.”

FutureEnergy Ireland Development DAC - a joint venture between Coillte and the ESB - has sought a 10-year permission for the development of a long duration energy storage compound.

The proposed development has a total surface of around 2.9 hectares and would have 248 battery energy storage units in metal shipping containers.

They have also sought permission for the installation of an onsite transformer compound to facilitate an under-the fence connection to the adjacent substation.

The application also includes a control building, a 110kv transformer, associated electrical equipment, and an up to 18m high lightning protection monopole mast.

Among those to submit objections include the Nazareth House in Fahan, who say there should be a “duty of care” to residents in the 48-bed nursing home and towards 65 members of staff and six sisters of Nazareth who reside in the convent.

Peter Sweetman, a director of Wild Ireland Defense CLG objected as did the Buncrana Gun Club and Thomas Lawrence, the Project Officer at The Mill River Conservation Group.

Councillor Joy Beard of the 100% Redress party is among those opposing the plans. In a submission she cited several concerns:  Environmental and water contamination risks; fire hazard ad emergency preparedness; disruption to wildlife; lack of proven long-term performance; water supply for the facility; and noise pollution.

Another objector said such plants had not been tested anywhere in Europe and said “we shouldn’t be the guinea pigs here in Inishowen” while another said that Ballynahone is a “a beautiful peaceful area and it would be a shame to destroy it with a big industrial facility”.

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A further submission told the Council that there are “too many uncertainties and not enough facts to back it up”.

Following a query from Donegal Live, a spokeswoman for Futurenergy Ireland recently declined to respond to specific issues and concerns raised at the meeting but said  the company wanted to “respect the role of the Planning Authority in carrying out their statutory duty before commenting further on this project”.

Donegal County Council has indicated that a decision on the application is due by November 17 next.