300 acres solar farm planned for Kildare 

A SCOTTISH environmental firm has applied to build a 138Ha (340ac) solar farm in south Kildare, about six kilometres east of Athy, which would produce enough carbon-free electricity to power up to 23,500 homes annually, or approximately one-third the population of the county.

The Glasgow-based company Neo Environmental, trading locally as Ballindrum Solar, is applying for the usual 10-year operational licence from Kildare County Council, but expects the installation to last for 40 years.

The proposed installation will run down the length adjacent to L8017 for about two kilometres south from Pat Finn Motors, and east for about 1,500m.

The application only went recently and an answer is expected from the Planners by the end of April.

According to their application, the project is in line with EU Directives, and subject to the Planning and Development Act – which allows local authorities impose conditions on permissions requiring the usage of such open spaces.

The arrays will be mounted on galvanised frames, whose pilings will only be driven 1.5m into the ground, whilst all onsite cabling will be buried to a depth of one metre, according to the application.

There will be a temporary construction site needed for this project, but this will be re-instated after completion.

There will be a total of four kilometres of access and site tracks within the perimeter, which will be fenced and maintained by CCTV.

A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared with the application, which also includes, three volumes of archaeological impact, glare assessment on aviation, road and residences, a tree protection plan, as well as bird and bat surveys.

According to Neo’s architects, the visual impacts of the site will be “slight adverse to low externally”.

“Considering the possible often localised nature of available views, landscape mitigation will further reduce landscape and visual effects.

“There may be a slight increase in visual effects during the winter season due to the absence of foliage, but the majority of differences in visibility will be experienced locally within an approximate 250m radius, depending on the pruning status of intervening hedgerows as well as the amount of other intervening vegetation.

“Overall, the difference in visibility is considered not material.

“Construction works will not be visible beyond the 500m, within the 5km core study area in views at elevation, particularly to the north where there is vegetation to screen views.

“While discernible, the construction effects in long-distance views are not considered significant as they form part of a wide panoramic view in which they form one visible component of many.

“The main landscape effects of the proposed development will be associated with the introduction of a solar farm and associated infrastructure within the field previously used for agricultural practices. The magnitude of landscape change ranges from 'Low to  Slight Adverse' as the site is used for agricultural purposes”.