Plans for massive solar farm in Offaly put on hold again as council seeks further clarification

Plans for a massive solar farm in Offaly have been put on hold for a second time as Offaly County Council has sought clarification on further information provided by the company seeking to develop the solar farm.

Permission is being sought by Harmony Solar to build the solar farm on three land parcels between Kilcormac and Rath totaling 142 hectares.

Offaly County Council sought further information on the project in April. This was subsequently supplied to Offaly County Council by Harmony Solar in June but the council has now sought further clarification on a number of points. 

In its request for clarification, Offaly County Council states that an archaeological assessment should be carried out at this stage before a planning decision is taken. 

The Council also raises concerns over glint and glare for one dwelling close to the proposed development where a response sought from the company in the further information was not provided. 

The Council also states that Harmony Solar must submit at least a preliminary Decommissioning and Restoration Plan and is also seeking information on the maximum export capacity of the development. 

A 10-year permission and 40 year operation is being sought for the solar farm on close to 142 hectares of farm land in the townlands of Dovehill, Grotnamuck, Curraghmore and Freagh. It would include 834,632 square metres of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames. 

This would be the fourth large solar farm development granted permission in part of Drumcullen parish with three of them in close proximity to each other.

Planning was granted in March 2021 for 105,000 photovoltaic panels at Rathmount, Mullanafawnia and Russellspenn near the village of Rath.

Planning was granted for 122,904 photovoltaic panels at Ballindown, Bogderries, Ballywilliam and Ballynaguilsha in the parish in August 2021.

And last month, Summit Solar was given permission to construct a 62 Megawatt solar photovoltaic development divided over two different parcels of land, the first in the townland of Parkmore, close to Rath and Fivealley, and the second in Clonbeale Beg Glebe and Rathure, North of Killyon.

A large windfarm is also under construction adjacent to Derrinlough briquette factory and is clearly visible from dwellings adjacent to the new solar farm.