KILDARE: New public park should also be a community solar project
A community solar energy project should be launched at Kerdiffstown Park - the new development of sports pitches and walking routes to be opened at the former dump site near Naas this year.
Green Party councillors Peter Hamilton and Bob Quinn want Kildare County Council to assess the feasibility of developing the project at the site with a “ supporting business model.”
They point out that the three is feed-in capacity available at the electricity substation in Monread and it is one of the few such facilities with this capacity.
“This is a unique opportunity,” said Cllr Hamilton pointing out that the sub station is one of the few in the county to where the electricity can be sold back.
“We need to show urgency of action in a climate crisis,” Cllr Hamilton told a KCC meeting.
KCC official Marian Higgins said that the council has started talking to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland about a study.
She pointed out that Kerdiffstown Park’s primary use is as a recreational facility for the public’s use.
“Given the need to decarbonise and increase energy efficiencies to meet the national objective, it is important to seek out potential avenues that work in conjunction with the intended use of facilities and may create opportunities to enhance the operations.”Part of KCC’s proposed Climate Action Plan, proposes a feasibility study of the potential “for district heating or energy from key sources within the county including data centres, wastewater treatment plants and large industry, ensuring such a report has appropriate regard to planning and environmental protection considerations”
She said a study will also be taken in conjunction with ESB Networks.
Ms Higgins said a number of factors need to be considered including the extent of area that may be required for solar panels and the effect this could have on the recreational use of the park as well as the visual effect solar panels will have within the park and, possibly, the surrounding area.
She also highlighted the effects solar panels will have on the maintenance and management of the park and the limitations of installing overground and underground infrastructure on a landfill site.