Planning consent advances SSE’s expanded North Mayo battery project towards potential delivery, creating a future pipeline for energy infrastructure suppliers.

SSE has secured planning consent from Mayo County Council for revised plans for its proposed Mullafarry Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Killala in North Mayo, advancing a significant energy infrastructure project and its potential future supply-chain requirements, according to Energy Global.

SSE is a UK-headquartered energy company operating across electricity generation, networks and energy infrastructure. Its Irish operations include existing generation assets and a growing portfolio of renewable energy and battery storage projects.

The revised Mullafarry scheme would comprise an 80MW/320MWh battery storage facility, increasing the project's storage duration to up to four hours. The development would include up to 64 battery storage units, alongside heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and associated supporting infrastructure, according to SSE's project announcement.

For procurement, the planning milestone is significant because it moves a large-scale energy asset closer to a potential delivery phase. The project is being developed on an SSE-owned site at Killala Business Park, adjacent to the company's existing 104MW Tawnaghmore Power Station, creating an established energy infrastructure location for the proposed investment. SSE Renewables identifies the site as part of its wider battery storage development pipeline.

The proposed facility would require a broad range of equipment, engineering and construction capabilities if SSE proceeds. Potential procurement requirements could span battery storage systems, electrical infrastructure, civil works, mechanical and HVAC systems, control technologies, installation services and specialist engineering support. The scale of the project therefore provides a potential pipeline of work for suppliers involved in Ireland's energy infrastructure market.

The increase from the project's original 80MW/160MWh configuration to 320MWh is also commercially significant. The revised project plans show that the increased storage capacity would allow the facility to retain its 80MW power output while providing up to four hours of storage.

From a national infrastructure perspective, the project could support Ireland's wider requirement for flexible electricity capacity. Battery storage can absorb electricity when supply is available and release it when required, helping integrate renewable generation while supporting grid stability and security of supply, as SSE explains.

The development also has a potential regional procurement impact. If the project proceeds, construction is expected to take up to two years, creating employment and supporting the local supply chain. Once operational, the facility is also expected to contribute commercial rates to Mayo County Council.

However, planning consent does not yet represent a construction award. SSE's final investment decision is still required before the project can proceed to delivery, meaning procurement opportunities remain dependent on that decision and the subsequent project delivery strategy.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: planning progress on large-scale battery projects is helping establish a stronger pipeline of future energy infrastructure investment in Ireland. For procurement teams and suppliers, Mullafarry demonstrates how major energy projects can create opportunities across multiple specialist categories well before construction begins, making early visibility of infrastructure pipelines increasingly important.

Source: Energy Global / SSE / SSE Renewables