RES has submitted a planning application to the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in Northern Ireland for a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to be located near Rasharkin in County Antrim.
The proposed Machaire BESS project, which is expected to be determined by the Planning Committee in 2025, aims to support Northern Ireland's efforts to reach its net-zero emissions target. If approved, the project is estimated to take around 18 months to complete.
Chosen for its proximity to the Rasharkin substation and its location outside of national or local environmental designations, the Machaire BESS is intended to enhance the region's electricity system. The project is expected to help create a more reliable, resilient, and decarbonized energy infrastructure for the future.
Battery energy storage systems like Machaire play a critical role in decarbonizing the power sector, particularly by 2030. BESS are designed to balance the electricity system at a lower cost by maximizing output from variable energy sources and reducing the need for costly network upgrades or new infrastructure.
Peter Henry, Development Project Manager for RES, emphasized the careful design of the project. “We have carefully designed the Machaire project so that it will sit sensitively within the local landscape,” Henry said. He added that the potential visibility of the infrastructure would be largely limited by the terrain and existing planting, with a comprehensive landscaping plan also being proposed to further enhance visual screening and promote biodiversity.
“The Machaire proposal is therefore not just good for the environment but also the local biodiversity,” Henry stated.
The planning application follows an extensive community consultation program, with feedback from local residents and stakeholders shaping the final design. The process also included numerous environmental and technical surveys to assess the potential impact of the project.
“At RES, we consider pre-application consultation a crucial part of the energy storage development process in order to facilitate constructive conversations,” Henry explained. “We were pleased to host a second consultation event for the local community, ahead of submitting our planning application, following feedback from our first consultation event. The second event enabled us to provide information on the updated plans for Machaire and answer any questions.”
Henry concluded, “We are grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in our consultation events.”
