Battery Energy Storage System approved for Cootehill

Brachio Storage Limited has secured 10-year planning permission for the development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated compound at Drumman and Errigal, Cootehill.

The decision allows for a facility of approximately 1.27 hectares designed to support the adjacent permitted solar farm.

Covering 1.27 hectares, the facility will feature 14 self-contained lithium-ion phosphate units, three twin skids, a single skid, and a 27.6m² control room, all designed to store solar-generated electricity for release during peak demand or grid fluctuations.

Located roughly one kilometre southwest of Cootehill town centre, the greenfield site is strategically co-located with the existing solar farm, providing grid stability by storing solar-generated electricity and releasing it during periods of high demand or fluctuations.

The planned project includes a comprehensive fire safety strategy, developed in accordance with Irish, UK, and international best practice. The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries offer high thermal stability and low combustibility. Units are spaced to prevent fire spread, and a minimum 50m buffer is maintained from site boundaries.

The site builds on earlier solar farm approvals from 2017 and 2021, which increased output to 7MW.

There were no third-party submissions or objections lodged on the planning file with the local authority.

Pre-application consultations with Cavan County Council in July 2025 guided the layout and technical specifications, with 33 planning conditions now ensuring environmental, safety, and operational standards are met.

The permission includes 33 conditions governing environmental, safety, and operational standards.