To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the impact of the Chief Planner’s update on 16 December regarding Battery Energy Starage Systems (BESS) on (i) renewable energy projects in Northern Ireland; and (ii) the relative ease of BESS applications in Northern Ireland compared to the Republic of Ireland.

The Chief Planner’s Update on 16 December 2020 clarified the position that for the purposes of planning in Northern Ireland, my Department considers that electricity storage development falls within the meaning of an ‘electricity generating station’. This clarification ensures that development of this nature is correctly classified as local, major or regionally significant and that, where appropriate, pre-application community consultation and environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out.

I understand that thresholds for EIA are different in the Republic of Ireland as is the threshold for referral to An Bord Pleanála (as strategic infrastructure development) for these types of development. If in the future it is appropriate to revisit the thresholds or policy in relation to BESS developments in this jurisdiction, then consultation requirements with stakeholders will be considered in the usual way.