Major 143-hectare solar farm earmarked near Geashill

Plans have been submitted for a 143-hectare solar farm on lands outside the village of Geashill.

The planning application was lodged with Offaly Council by Raheen Beg Solar Limited on May 28.

The site is situated within the townlands of Raheenbeg, Ballychristal, Killarles and Bawnmore, in a predominantly rural setting, near Geashill.

The proposed development would comprise the construction of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on metal frames, 13 inverters, internal access tracks and perimeter fencing with CCTV security system incorporating 35 cameras.

The provision of access gates, electrical cabling and ducting, two temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works, are further proposed as part of the plans submitted to the local authority.

The applicants have also said within the planning documentations that the site "is well served by a number of regional and local roads" with two existing access points to be used to access the proposed development location which will "include the upgrading and widening of an existing access off the L1013".

The solar panels will have a maximum height of 3.2 metres and be positioned at an angle of 10-20 degrees upon construction. Planning permission is being sought for a 10-year period with an operational lifespan of 40 years from the date of commissioning.

The proposed development covers an area of approximately 143.4 hectares of agricultural land. The applicants have noted that due to the nature of the proposed solar farm development construction works, "ground disturbance will only occur over approximately 2.3% of the overall site", with the remainder of the site "utilised for agricultural purposes throughout the lifetime of the operation".

Agricultural land will not be permanently lost due to the construction or operation of the solar farm, as the development "has a very limited footprint".

The applicants have stated that there is also "possibility for the agricultural use of the land to continue throughout the operational phase of construction".

Raheen Beg Solar Limited also said the grid connection "does not form part of this planning application" and will be the "subject of a future Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) application made to An Coimisiún Pleanála".

The applicants outlined that the "indicative grid connection currently proposed to connect the proposed development to the national grid is through a new 110kV substation and associated 110kV infrastructure, which will connect the proposed Raheen Beg Solar Farm to the most optimal 110kV substation".

The applicant noted that an estimated 41,500 homes could be powered per annum, "equating to approximately 1.6 million homes over the project lifetime" with a significant saving of approximately 58,995 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to equivalent fossil fuel generation, which "equates to approximately 2.3 million tonnes over the 40-year project lifetime".

The proposed development, the applicant added would "help the County of Offaly to fulfil their aims of increased renewable energy production", "improve energy security for Irish consumers in a volatile marketplace" and "provide local economic benefits in the form of rural diversification".

A decision on the application is due from Offaly County Council by July 22.