One of the largest solar farms ever to be constructed near Kildare/Laois border

DESPITE over 80 objections and submissions lodged with Laois County Council, the county planners approved the construction of what locals from the Ballybrittas, Emo and Vicarstown areas describe as the largest Solar Energy Farm ever to be constructed in Ireland.

Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited was given the go ahead by the planners to develop its site over five townlands stretching across 249 hectares (615 acres) with 1,796,838sq. metres of solar photovoltaic panels.

The company will develop its solar farms within the townlands of Morett, Killone, Cappakeel, Rossmore and Raheennahown north.

Along with the solar panels the company was granted permission to erect approximately 22,753m (14 miles) of boundary security fencing around its site.

The company said that it will submit a separate planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála as part of a Strategic Infrastructure Development for the provision of a 110kV substation in the townland of Morett and will connect the substation to the national grid.

In April locals gathered in Emo Community Hall to voice their objections to the development.

At that meeting the then planned development was described by them as one of the largest solar energy farms in Ireland. 

Questions were also raised about the suitability of locating “an industrial complex” in a rural community. 

Some also expressed concerns about the visual effect the solar farm would have on the area and the impact on house and land prices locally.

Present at the meeting that night were Deputies Sean Fleming and Willie Aird along with cllrs Paschal McEvoy and Vivienne Phelan and a representative of Deputy Brian Stanley. The public representatives present encouraged the meeting attendees to list their concerns and submit them to the planning authority.

However, from the 82 that submitted observations to the plans, just three public representatives made submissions - Deputy Brian Stanley and cllrs Aidan Mullins and Aisling Moran.

Some of the submissions voiced concerns about the company’s lack of consultation with those living in the planned areas for development. Others objected to the development proceeding because of the lack of national policy or guidelines around such developments. Glare/glint from the solar panels was also another factor as well as environmental issues such as water, traffic, movements, security, not just around the site, but of locals’ homes as well as the displacement of wildlife and light pollution.

The company said it anticipates it will take up to 18 months for the completion of the project.