Mayo County Council has granted planning consent to SSE for revised proposals at its Mullafarry Battery Energy Storage System project near Killala, enabling the company to significantly increase the facility's storage capacity to 320 MWh.

Revised Plans Unlock Larger Storage Capacity

The approval marks a major step forward for the project, which is located at Killala Business Park in North Mayo and sits adjacent to SSE's existing 104MW Tawnaghmore Power Station.

Under the revised consent, the Mullafarry facility would be configured as an 80MW / 320MWh battery storage system, capable of storing up to four hours of reserve electricity capacity. The approved project comprises up to 64 battery storage units along with associated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and supporting infrastructure.

The planning consent does not guarantee construction will proceed. SSE has stated that delivery of the facility remains subject to a final investment decision by the company.

Grid Support and Security of Supply

SSE has outlined that the Mullafarry facility, if built, would provide Ireland's transmission system operator with access to a reliable and flexible power reserve. The system would work by storing electricity when supplies are high and releasing it back to the grid when demand requires it.

According to SSE, this type of flexibility would help support security of electricity supply, maintain grid stability and enable more renewable electricity to connect to Ireland's national grid.

Battery storage technology of this kind is designed to assist with the integration of renewable electricity onto the grid, addressing one of the central challenges facing energy systems that rely on intermittent generation sources such as wind and solar.

Jobs and Local Economic Benefits Cited

SSE has pointed to economic benefits for the North Mayo area as part of its case for the project. If construction proceeds, the company says the build phase would be expected to take up to two years and would create jobs while supporting the local supply chain.

Once operational, the battery storage facility would generate commercial rates payments to Mayo County Council, which SSE says would help improve local infrastructure and services.

The company has not specified the number of jobs that would be created during construction or operation of the facility.

SSE's Broader Northwest Portfolio

Ghislain Demeuldre, Head of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery Development at SSE Renewables, welcomed the council's decision, describing it as giving SSE the potential to significantly increase the energy output deliverable through the project.

He said that by storing electricity when supplies are high and making it available when needed, Mullafarry could help support a more secure, affordable and homegrown electricity system for Ireland, and reiterated the project's role in SSE's contribution to Ireland's energy transition.

The Mullafarry project forms part of a wider cluster of energy infrastructure that SSE is developing across the northwest of Ireland. In addition to the operational Tawnaghmore Power Station at Killala Business Park, SSE is progressing the proposed Glenora and Sheskin South wind farm projects in North Mayo in partnership with FuturEnergy Ireland.

The company has also recently submitted plans for a proposed Crumhach Wind Farm project in West Sligo, located at the site of the existing Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms.

Planning Milestone for Irish Battery Storage Sector

The Mullafarry approval arrives as Ireland continues to expand its battery energy storage capacity as part of broader efforts to decarbonise its electricity system.

The revised consent from Mayo County Council supersedes earlier planning proposals for the same site, with the updated plans allowing SSE to substantially increase the project's energy storage potential beyond what had previously been approved.

SSE has described the facility as providing vital electricity storage needed to support a cleaner, more affordable and secure homegrown energy system for Ireland.

The project's location within an existing business park and adjacent to an operational power station positions it within established energy infrastructure rather than requiring development on a greenfield site.

Powering Smarter Decisions Across Ireland's Energy Landscape

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