LATEST: Green light for massive solar farm in Kildare

Planning permission has been granted for a solar farm spanning nearly 250 hectares in east Kildare. 

The facility will have an operational lifespan of 40 years and have a maximum export capacity of around  210 megawatts of electricity. 

The estimated construction value of the project is €197m, according to the Construction Information Services database. 

The facility is being developed by Dublin-based firm Delamain Solar Farm Limited which was established last year.

The solar farm will have a total area of circa 246 hectares in the townlands of Brannockstown, Brownstown, Carnalway, Coghlanstown West, Corbally, Delamain, Dunnstown, Gaganstown, Greenhills, Harristown, Hillsborough, Moorhill And Rochestown.

The solar farm will consist of solar photovoltaic panels with a surface area of 1,130,000 square metres on ground mounted frames.

Also in the plans are 40 single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations and four single storey spare parts containers.

The designs include weather stations, underground electrical ducting and cabling.

Security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, temporary construction compounds and landscaping is included.

Construction and operational access will be via entrances from local routes: R412, R413, L6044, L6047 and L6063.

Part of the development is situated within the land of Harristown House which contains protected structures, but no works are proposed to these protected structures.