Carlow County Council give green light to large solar farm
The solar farm will have planning permission for ten years and will extend approximately 73 hectares in the townlands of Ballybar Lower, Ballybar Upper, Ballycarney, Ballyloo, Linkardstown, Park and Tinryland in Co Carlow.
It's understood the solar farm, once constructed, will consist of solar panels on ground mounted frames, 11 single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations, three single storey spare parts containers, two ring main units and three weather stations.
Underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site, private lands and within the L1010, L3051, L3052 and L3050 public roads will be used to connect solar farm field parcels
There will also be security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, three watercourse/drain deck crossings and two horizontal directional drill crossings under the M9 motorway and L3050, temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all associated ancillary development and drainage works.
Construction and operational access will be via two entrances from the L1022 and L1010.
The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and planning permission has been requested for this duration. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and was submitted to the planning authority with the application.
The applicant, Ballyloo Solar Farm Limited, received planning permission with 36 conditions attached.
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