Permission expected to be sought for new solar farm in Limerick
Company signals its intention to go forward for planning permission
PLANNING permission is expected to formally be sought for a huge new solar farm in Limerick.
Energy firm Harmony Solar East Limerick has prepared a planning application for the development, planned across a number of townlands.
The solar farm is projected to be located on lands to the west and south of Hospital and the north-west of Knocklong.
It’s proposed to be located across around 210 hectares of agricultural land in eight different parcels.
If it gets permission, it’s envisioned the solar farm will be operational for a total of 40 years.
The physical infrastructure would see 843,000 square metres of solar panels on ground mounted steel frames.
Some 29 hardstanding locations would be needed for electrical skids.
Three electrical plant rooms would be required, a planning notice shows, as well as new internal access plants, plus underground power and communications cables plus ducts.
Some of these would need to be installed along local and regional roads in the vicinity.
In an update posted to its website in February this year, Harmony East Solar stated since it initially consulted on the plans last year, the full project design has progressed.
Environmental surveys have taken place, alongside technical assessments and engagement with Limerick City and County Council.
Updated layout plans and access proposals have been prepared and a follow-up pre-planning engagement has also taken place.
The application for this solar farm is being processed as under ‘Red Three’ rules.
Put in place by the European Union, these are intended to speed up the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure.
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It means that the developer can expect to receive a decision within a year of the application being received in order.
Headquartered in Wexford, Harmony Solar East Limerick has said it plans to connect to the electricity grid through the existing power lines west of Hospital.
Last year, the firm said because the solar farm will be divided into eight different parcels, it will break up its visual impact.
"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,” a spokesperson for the company added.
Harmony Solar East Limerick also stated no solar panel will be more than 3.2m above ground level, and would be similar in size to panels used on roofs of private houses.
Comprehensive environmental surveys of the land have taken place.
These include surveys to understand the biodiversity of the site, potential archaeological remains and flood risk.
There are a number of significant solar farm proposals either planned or working their way through the planning system across the Mid-West region.
The sector has accelerated rapidly over the past 18 months as Ireland seeks to meet its energy targets.
Two linked planning applications were lodged for two solar farms within the National Technology Park at Plassey.
Separately, a solar project is planned for the west Limerick-north Kerry border. In Limerick, the development is proposed to be located in the townland of Ballygoghlan in the wider Glin area.