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Energy · Co. Limerick

Kilathmoy Substation, Athea Upper, Athea Co. Limerick

Granted 23 Jul 2026

Archived record

This application has left our current planning lists, so this page is no longer updated. We last saw it in the council's register on 22 Aug 2026. The details below are as they were then. The council's register has the current status.

What and where

Notice for Renewable Energy Directive III

Notice for Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) Development - 10 year Permission for development of a Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) facility at this site within the townland of Athea Upper, Athea, Co. Limerick. The development will consist of: (a) removal of selected items of existing grid support equipment and plant at the Kilathmoy wind farm substation (2 no battery containers and associated inverters, transformers and HVAC units, diesel generator and associated diesel tank, pre-fabricated electrical containers, sections of compound security fencing), and (b) construction of a Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) facility containing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound consisting of BESS units, (approximately 5m in height) with associated HVAC units, transformers, inverters; underground cabling; 1 no pre-fabricated communications and control container; lighting, CCTV, lightning masts; diesel generator and associated diesel tank; water storage tanks (approximately 3.6m in height); store containers; securing fencing, internal access track and access gates and all associated ancillary works including drainage, earthworks and retaining structures necessary to facilitate the development The application will replace the previously consented (but unbuilt) BESS facility granted under planning ref (21/1702). A 10 year permission is being sought in respect of the development. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared as part of the application. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply.

Location
Athea Upper, Co. Limerick Map
Planning reference
2660215
Applicant
Winter Winds Ltd
Agent
Caitriona Fox

Key facts

Project type
Energy
Received
27 Feb 2026
Granted
23 Jul 2026

Timeline

  1. Application received
  2. Further information requested
  3. Granted

Outlook

What happens next

Permission was granted on 23 Jul 2026 and no site start has been filed yet. The next step is a commencement notice, filed before building work begins; the start date and who will build it are not known yet.

Work packages named so far

  • Services and drainageNamed in the application description

An outlook from the planning record, not a tender or a confirmed start date.

Documents and evidence

Check the record

  • Council planning fileThe application file 2660215 on eplanning.ie: drawings, reports and the decision.Open the council's file

Reviewed build intelligence

What the documents establish

Government document review

The current proposal replaces the previously consented but unbuilt facility under 21/1702 and removes selected existing equipment. The Commission case is pending. February 2026 drawings describe the proposal; they do not establish delivery, battery chemistry or a final equipment supplier.

3 official documents inspected · Checked 2026-09-05 · Official file index

Battery units and MV skids have separate dimensioned envelopes

Proposed in application · Typical illustrated BESS/MV arrangement, February 2026 planning drawing

What the evidence says
The drawing shows a BESS unit plan of 16.25 by 6.1 metres and a 4.85-metre unit elevation. The illustrated combined BESS-and-MV-skid arrangement is 38.2 metres long; its elevation includes a 5-metre overall level allowance.

Why it may matter — interpretation
Interpretation: distinguishes the battery equipment envelope from the combined arrangement for foundations, access and transport coordination.

What is not established
No inferred number of batteries, aggregate energy capacity, chemistry, manufacturer or installed module count is published. Dimensions are not extrapolated into a project total.

Inspect the evidence

BESS Unit and MV Skid Details · p.1
BESS UNIT ELEVATION · Issued 2026-02-27 · 22490-XX-XXX-DR-MWP-CE-5401 Rev 0, issued for planning; received 2026-02-27 · Checked 2026-09-05

BESS UNIT ELEVATION

Control room separates communications, SCADA and switchgear

Proposed in application · Prefabricated communications/control building arrangement

What the evidence says
The drawing shows an 18.4-metre control-room building with telecommunications and BESS SCADA racks, AC distribution, DC battery, metering and CCTV positions, plus a separate switchgear zone with an arc duct. AC split units are shown at the ends and an auxiliary transformer sits alongside.

Why it may matter — interpretation
Interpretation: identifies electrical, control, cooling and arc-duct coordination requirements.

What is not established
Equipment ratings, selected manufacturers, final commissioning design and installed fit-out are not established.

Inspect the evidence

Comms and Control Room Details · p.1
AC Split Unit · Issued 2026-02-27 · 22490-XX-XXX-DR-MWP-CE-5402 Rev 0, issued for planning; received 2026-02-27 · Checked 2026-09-05

AC Split Unit

New filter drains connect to existing site drainage

Proposed in application · New and retained infrastructure at the existing Kilathmoy substation compound

What the evidence says
The layout marks new filter drains tying into existing drainage, a hydrocarbon interceptor at the auxiliary-transformer area, and relocation of the wastewater tank and rainwater-harvesting unit.

Why it may matter — interpretation
Interpretation: identifies interfaces with retained drainage and water infrastructure rather than treating the whole site as a new system.

What is not established
No final hydraulic calculation, interceptor model or condition discharge is established by this layout.

Inspect the evidence

Proposed Site Layout: Tailte Mapping · p.1
HYDROCARBON INTERCEPTOR · Issued 2026-02-27 · 22490-XX-XXX-DR-MWP-CE-5005 Rev 0, registered as Drainage Layout; received 2026-02-27 · Checked 2026-09-05

HYDROCARBON INTERCEPTOR

Two separately stated above-ground water tanks

Proposed in application · Water tanks shown on the proposed compound layout

What the evidence says
The layout labels two 25,000-litre above-ground water tanks by the compound entrance.

Why it may matter — interpretation
Interpretation: identifies a discrete tank package requiring access and services coordination.

What is not established
The layout alone does not prove fire-service acceptance, operational water availability, installation or purchase. Tank capacities are not combined with battery-energy or drainage-storage quantities.

Inspect the evidence

Proposed Site Layout: Tailte Mapping · p.1
2 X 25,000L ABOVE GROUND WATER TANKS · Issued 2026-02-27 · 22490-XX-XXX-DR-MWP-CE-5005 Rev 0, registered as Drainage Layout; received 2026-02-27 · Checked 2026-09-05

2 X 25,000L ABOVE GROUND WATER TANKS
Remaining document questions
  • Which later official decision, approved detail or revision changes these source-specific findings?
  • Has a phase-specific official record established the selected equipment or installed specification?

Selected pages of 3 government-published PDFs were visually inspected. Three technical drawings visually inspected. Later noise response and planner report were text-searched for revision context but are not counted as visually inspected supporting PDFs. Proposals do not establish procurement or installed work.

How we know this

From the Limerick City and County Council planning register, as last seen on 22 Aug 2026. The council's own file is the official record. Facts from the planning documents were read from the documents in that file.

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