Parish near Laois set to be solar farm capital of Ireland

An parish not far from Laois is set to become solar farm capital of Ireland as plans for a massive development have been resubmitted to Offaly County Council.

Having previously been deemed invalid, plans have been lodged again with the local authority for over one million square metres of solar panels in one development on quality farm land in Offaly.

Harmony Solar is seeking permission for the 437 acre (177 hectare) development on three parcels of farmland between Kilcormac and Rath. 

This could be the fourth large solar farm development granted permission in 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.

A further application is currently in the planning process and is seeking to construct a solar farm covering 69 hectares on two, separate parcels of land again near the village of Rath

This latest development seeking permission would be the fourth in the parish and the biggest in the county by far.

A 10-year permission and 40 year operation for the solar farm consisting of over one million square metres of photovaltaic panels.is being sought on the following land parcels. 

West parcel (Dovehill townland) c. 119.25 hectares

Central parcel (Gortamuck & Curraghmore townlands) c. 42.2 hectares

East parcel (Gortamuck & Freagh townlands) c. 16.07 hectares

There are also plans for a route corridor of 3.5 hectares for an underground internal electrical cable connecting the west and central parcels to the east parcel consisting of almost four kilometres of underground cabling within the corridor of road from Rath to Kilcormac.

The total site area for the proposed development is almost 450 acres in an entirely rural location and consists of the following;

* 1,070,756 square metres of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames

* inverter / transformer stations

* underground power and communication cables and ducts

* boundary security fencing

* two medium voltage (mv) control buildings

* new internal access tracks associated drainage infrastructure

* site entrances to the Rath Road

* 54 CCTV/ lighting posts and all associated site services and works.

Installations of internal network cable comprise trenching for an underground medium voltage electrical cable and associated joint bays and infrastructure, for a distance of approximately 3,859 metres in length along the Rath Road and approximately 661.5 metres within the solar farm lands.

As part of a separate strategic infrastructure development (SID_ planning application, provision of a 1 10kv electrical substation with electrical control building, associated compound with palisade fence and two overhead line masts, which is to be located in the east parcel, will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála in due course