Update on proposals for new solar farm on 210 hectares of land in Limerick

PLANNING permission is expected to be sought next year for a huge new solar farm in Limerick.

Energy firm Harmony Solar East Limerick has announced it has begun to prepare a formal application to develop the multi-million euro plan.

It is planned to be located on lands to the west and south of Hospital , and the north-west of Knocklong.

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It’s proposed to be located across around 210 hectares of agricultural land in eight different parcels.

Harmony Solar East Limerick - which is headquartered in Wexford - has said that it will connect to the electricity grid through the existing power lines west of Hospital.

A new electrical substation will be needed for this, with the company saying this could be included in the overall planning application for the solar farm, or part of a separate submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly An Bord Pleanála.

Harmony Solar East Limerick has stated that it is likely that an application will be made early next year.

A consultation has already opened on the proposals ahead of the firm formally applying for permission.

As part of this, the company has said that because the solar farm will be divided into eight different parcels, it will break up the visual impact of the solar farm.

“It will not be possible to see more than one or two parcels from any one place. The solar farm will be screened with thick hedge around the perimeter and will be difficult to see from most angles. The solar panels will be raised off the ground so the land can continue to be grazed by livestock,” the firm added.

The solar farm would comprise solar panels, ground mounted frames and associated infrastructure.

The company went on to state: “Each solar panel will be the same size as solar panels on roofs of houses and they will be joined together on a metal frame mounting structure.”

No panel will be more than 3.2 metres above ground.

Harmony Solar East Limerick Ltd has carried out environmental surveys on the land over the last two months.

These have included surveys to understand the biodiversity of the site, potential archaeological remains and flood risk.

Surveys will continue over the summer, and this, plus public feedback will inform the design of the solar farm.

More information at 053-9175000, or on https://eastlimericksolarfarm.ie/