Residents in ‘limbo’ over BESS decision delay

Call for moratorium on new developments

There’s been a call for a moratorium on the development of any Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities in Ireland until comprehensive safety guidelines are established for the sector.

The call was made at the June meeting of Cavan County Council by the new cathaoirleach, Cllr John Paul Feeley (FG).

It comes as an appeal regarding two such energy facilities in the county is outstanding with An Bord Pleanála.

More than a year has passed since the case was lodged with the planning appeals board regarding Cavan County Council’s decision to grant a 10-year permission for two BESS facilities at Shankill Lower, Clonervy, just outside Cavan Town, and Pottle near Ballinagh.

The lapse in time appears to have done little to ease concerns and instead, a series of high-profile incidents - both in Ireland and abroad - have heightened public unease and highlighted the potential risks of such developments.

Despite objections, Donegal-registered Accelerate Renewables Limited was given the go ahead by Cavan planners to build an energy storage unit at Shankill Lower and another at Pottle.

Each site has an expected operational lifespan of 35 years and, if they overcome the appeal process, will involve the installation of energy storage containers on concrete plinths, supported by inverters, transformers, and underground cabling.

At present there is over one gigawatt (GW) of energised electricity storage functioning safely on the Irish grid. This capacity is comprised of 292MW from the pumped-hydro storage station at Turlough Hill, Co Wicklow, and the remainder from 21 Lithium-ion batteries (Li-BESS) sites with a capacity of 756 megawatts (MW).

The national planning authority was expected to issue a decision in respect of Shankill last August, while the Pottle appeal should have been finalised a month after that. But no conclusion has yet been reached, leaving local residents in a prolonged state of uncertainty.

At the heart of their opposition is the fear of what might happen in the event of a potential fire or explosion involving the lithium-ion batteries being stored - technology that some critics argue is insufficiently regulated and potentially hazardous.

These fears were aired during a public meeting in Killgarry in June 2024, where residents were joined by safety campaigners Hugh Dillon and Davis Wauchob, both veterinary professionals who have led similar opposition campaigns against the development of a 212MW BESS facility near their Kildare home.

To support their campaign, Dillon and Wauchob commissioned Professor Paul Christensen, an authority on electrochemistry and a safety advisor to the UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council, to draw up what turned out to be a damning report of what he believed to be an under-regulated industry.

Mr Dillon accepted that “lessons are being learned” in the industry.

He felt the crux of the problem in Ireland stems from a lack of regulation and seemingly no Government departmental responsibility.

Locals in Shankill, like Eleanor Davis, echoed these concerns.

Speaking to The Anglo-Celt, Davis raised questions about the basic safety provisions over what is proposed for the Shankill site next to her home.

“There is no access to water on site, and there is no decommissioning bond in the planning,” she claimed.

“If there is a fire, who is going to clean it up?”

Davis points to the specific risks posed by thermal runaway - a chain reaction that can happen in lithium-ion batteries over time, which could result in explosive fires and the release of hazardous gases.

“If this were a nuclear facility,” she adds, “there would be strict regulation... There doesn’t seem to be any clear oversight and no responsibility for what happens in the event of a catastrophe and whose responsibility it is to deal with the clean-up after the fire burns out.”

Her fears are not without precedent. In January 2025, a serious fire broke out at the Xerotech facility in Claregalway, where lithium batteries stored in a container combusted. It took three days to bring that particular fire under control, and resulted in the evacuation of 1,700 students from nearby schools as well as people working in nearby businesses. It was the second such incident at the same plant in as many years.

This event now looms large in the minds of Eleanor and other Shankill residents, many of whom live in equidistant proximity to schools, churches, not to mention the busy N3 roadway.

“The scale of impact could be massive,” Davis warns. “Just like in Claregalway, who will inform us when it’s safe to go home? How will we know that it’s truly safe?”

And it’s not just in Cavan or elsewhere Ireland. International cases are influencing the narrative too.

In Moss Landing, California, a fire at the Vistra BESS plant forced the evacuation of 1,500 people and burned for nearly two days. Like Claregalway, firefighters were often forced to allow the fire to burn out naturally, due to the dangers involved in directly extinguishing lithium battery blazes.

Another similar case occurred in San Diego in 2023, prompting further evacuation, again raised questions about emergency response capabilities.

In response to the Moss Landing incident specifically, officials issued a temporary moratoriums on BESS planning and construction. Internationally renowned environmental advocate Erin Brockovich has also since joined a recent legal effort. Known for her decades-long battle against corporate pollution, which led to her depiction in a Hollywood blockbuster, the action taken focuses on potential health impacts and is seeking accountability from the plant owner and other parties.

Call for moratorium

Locally the issue was raised at the June monthly meeting of Cavan County Council where Fianna Fáil councillor John Paul Feeley, now the new Cathaoirleach, introduced a motion calling for a a moratorium on new BESS developments in Ireland until such time as comprehensive safety guidelines are established.

The motion received support from Independent Ireland’s Shane P. O’Reilly and Fianna Fáil colleague Clifford Kelly, both of whom underscored the urgent need for regulatory clarity.

“There are just too many unknowns,” outgoing cathaoirleach T.P. O’Reilly added.

Despite a national policy framework introduced in July 2024, critics argue it remains incomplete especially when it comes to dealing with BESS.

“There is still no safety section, no regulator, no competent authority for batteries. That’s a major gap,” insists Ms Davis. “We’re not denying the role of battery storage in supporting the green transition. But it has to be done safely, and right now, we can’t be sure of that.”

Clean-up costs from a major BESS incident are estimated between €20-€80M.

As in the case of Xerotech - where liquidators were appointed in early 2025 - the question now is who is liable.

“We’re living in a state of limbo with all of this. In all the time that’s past our concerns haven’t diminished. If anything, they’ve grown... In the fire in California there was a 20 kilometre order to stay inside, and they’re still testing the soil [for contamination].”

She adds sternly that their campaign is not about being “alarmist”.

“We’re being realistic,” she says. “There is growing international evidence that, without proper oversight, there are real risks associated with BESS. Until those risks are addressed, how can we be expected to accept this in our back yard?”

In writing this article the Celt initially contacted the Environmental Protection Agency for comment. Their response was to say that, as this relates to energy infrastructure, the query falls under the remit of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

From an emergency response point of view they added that this is dealt with either through the Major Emergency Management Framework (National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management) or, for a national level emergency, the Strategic Emergency Management National Structures and Framework (Office of Emergency Planning).

“For Emergencies related to energy infrastructure the Lead Government Department is the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.”

When contacted however, a spokesperson for the CRU stated that the “responsibility for safe management” of BESS, and in ensuring appropriate equipment and facilities such as water supply and air monitoring is provided, “lies with the Health and Safety Authority”.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) confirmed that local planning authorities and fire services have a statutory role in ensuring BESS are properly sited and designed with fire safety in mind.

However, BESS are not classified as dangerous substances under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation.

In respect of BESS the HSA’s responsibility means occupational risks must be addressed through employer-conducted risk assessments and emergency preparedness. Electrical safety, in this context, is governed by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications says it is developing an Electricity Storage Policy Framework, due for publication by mid-2025.

This framework aims to outline opportunities, challenges, and regulatory considerations related to energy storage, aligning with Ireland’s decarbonisation goals.

It will also examine the current and future role of BESS, present business cases, and address in detail safety and regulatory aspects.

EirGrid, the national grid operator, stated that grid storage projects are built to international standards, while a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment emphasised that electricity storage regulation is spread across multiple departments.

These include the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, among others.

The department does not support the creation of a “single” central regulatory body for dealing with BESS and other technologies. Instead, it favours a decentralised approach, allowing specialised agencies to manage different aspects based on expertise.

Planning and building regulations for BESS fall under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) works with fire services and planning authorities to ensure fire safety standards are upheld. A department spokesperson noted that BESS projects are subject to the same environmental controls as other industrial developments, and assessed based on compliance with EU and Irish environmental laws.

Assessment criteria for storage projects are determined by specific project details and location. The department believes current planning laws are sufficient and says it sees no need for a moratorium on BESS planning applications.

Cavan County Council’s response was much the same, highlighting that national legislation entitles applicants to seek planning permission.

The County Development Plan, meanwhile, outlines a broad six-year strategy and is not meant to evaluate the pros and cons of individual technologies.

While the council cannot comment on specific applications, it confirmed that energy storage is a key element in the Climate Action Plan 2024, guided by national strategies such as the upcoming Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland.

Ultimately, the council confirmed that site operators are primarily responsible for managing energy storage developments, as is standard for all energy-related infrastructure.

Attempts were made to try and contact Accelerate Renewables Limited for comment, as well liquidators handling Galway’s Xerotech.