Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2024
177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if regulations are applicable in relation to the development of facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30636/24]
View answerDevelopment of Battery Energy Storage Systems does not fall within the scope of Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances (COMAH).
Battery Energy and Electricity Storage Systems are not classed as substances or mixtures under Classification Labelling and Packaging legislation (CLP), and therefore are not within the scope of Seveso/COMAH. Consequently, the COMAH Regulations do not apply to any type of battery storage system development.
The COMAH Regulations are explicitly linked to the EU CLP Regulations, covering only substances and mixtures classified in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures. The COMAH Regulations apply only when quantities of dangerous substances exceed the specified threshold quantities. The dangerous substances and threshold quantities are specified in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.
Regarding Battery Electricity Storage systems (BESS) the European Union in August 2023 introduced EU Regulation (2023/1542) – ‘Concerning Batteries & waste batteries’, which sets out the harmonisation of electricity storage batteries as well as safety testing and certification requirements relevant to battery energy storage systems. Policy responsibility for this Regulation sits with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland on 4 July 2024.
