Work at Dunstown 400kV Substation

Groundworks at Dunstown 400 kV Substation. Image © Airbus, Maxar Technologies.

On a section of land adjacent-to and SE of the existing substation.

Maybe extra transformer capacity being added or other electrical infrastructure. I'm going to have to visit Google Earth, rather than Google Maps, as the former has historical satellite imagery.

 

Edit: Possibly preliminary groundworks for this: The connection of a "a high-capacity 400 kV (kilovolt) underground electricity connection between Dunstown substation in Co Kildare and Woodland substation in Co Meath." This is part of the Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade (or Capital Project 966).

Details of necessary works at Dunstown for this project are available here.

A solar farm has also been granted planning permission at Delamain, just before Dunstown and adjacent to the road, north of Carnalway Cross. On the plans for the development, a bay is shown at Dunstown 400 kV Substation for connection of the 220 kV underground line from the solar farm.

An Coimisiún Pleanála still haven't given a decision on the revised plans submitted for the proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) facility, as far as I understand it. However, the facility would be located NE of the substation. More information on the ACP site link below, and its status is "Live Case". According to an Irish Independent article of 30 August last year, a decision was supposed to have been made by December 2024. The article also said that:

"An Bord Pleanála, planning consultant Peter Thomson for the applicants has stated that since the grant of permission, there have been advances in BESS technology. He said the changes in the design and chemistry of batteries have allowed for enhanced safety. As a result, "the BESS will use lithium iron phosphate batteries instead of the initially proposed lithium ion batteries".