Future Laois solar farm seeks connection to controversial EirGrid substation
Developers of an unbuilt solar farm in Laois are seeking planning permission to connect it to a future Laois electricity substation that has been fought for years by local objectors.
Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd got planning permission from Laois County Council back in 2017 to build a photovoltaic solar farm in Bigbog, Coolnabacky south of Portlaoise.
It was granted despite multiple local objections over the large size of the farm.
They got permission for a Distribution Network Operator substation, transformers and storage batteries along with the ground mounted solar panels.
In full it was for: "construction, operation and decommissioning of a photovoltaic solar farm comprising photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames, inverter stations, 1 no DNO/ Customer substation, switchgear substations, field transformers, auxiliary transformers, GRP cabinet, monitoring house communications building, single storey storage shed, battery containers, transformer containers, WC, fencing, temporary construction compound, access tracks, cabling, CCTV cameras, landscaping, creation of a new access and all associated ancillary development works."
It is close to EirGrid's planned 400kV Coolnabacky substation, part of a new electricity line between Kilkenny and Laois.
That substation plan was hotly protested for years by local residents in Ratheniska Substation Action Group. They fear it would become a hub for massive industrial windfarms in the Stradbally and Timahoe area south of Portlaoise. They held a lengthy blockade to stop site work, and paid to appeal the plan to An Bord Pleanála, unsuccessfully.
The RSA group and residents objected to the solar farm application, on several grounds including its size and the lack of detail of how it would be connected to Eirgrid's substation.
The latest on the substation is that Eirgrid plans to "commence 110 kV GIS Building Works in Q1 (January to March) 2024.
The solar farm applicant now called East Laois Solar Farm Ltd now seeks to install an underground cable to that new substation, changing the plans for their own substation and other equipment.
Their amended planning application requests:
"Replacement of permitted Distribution Network Operator (DNO) 110kV substation and all associated infrastructure (Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) Cabinet, monitoring house, storage shed, auxiliary transformer and WC) with an Air Insulation Switchgear (AIS) 110kV substation comprising a single-storey control building (c. 6.28m height and c. 133.7sqm) within a palisade-fenced compound (c. 2.6m height and c. 1,779.8sq.m) and all associated electrical infrastructure and apparatus, and realignment of permitted solar arrays.
"The proposed development will consist of: Construction of a new vehicular entrance and access track connecting to permitted internal vehicular tracks; Construction of an underground cable (c. 160m length) to provide a tail fed connection to the permitted 400kV Coolnabacky substation (An Bord Pleanála Case Ref. PL11.VA0015); and, All ancillary site development works, including lighting, drainage, temporary construction compound and on-site parking to serve the operational and maintenance needs of the substation."
They say that a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the planning authority with the application.
The application was received by Laois County Council in early January 2024 and a decision is due by February 27.