BREAKING: Huge solar farm development planned on the outskirts of Kilkenny City

BNRG Rosehill Limited are seeking planning permission from Kilkenny County Council for a large solar farm development on the outskirts of Kilkenny City.

According to the planning application, the development 'will consist of planning permission for a period of 10 years to construct and complete a solar PV energy development, battery storage and grid route with a total site area of 25.1 hectares' within the townlands of Castleblunden, Drakeland Middle, Clonmoran, Margaretsfield, Poulgour, Wetland and Archersleas, County Kilkenny.

The development will include the construction of PV panels mounted on metal frames; MV power stations; a substation; batteries; MV stations; new access tracks; underground cabling and ducting; perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gates; and a temporary construction compound.

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Also sought is permission for 10kV underground cabling 'connecting the solar farm to the existing Rosehill 38kV substation' and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works.

The development would be operational for 40 years. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of this application.

According to the planning statement submitted with the planning application, "The proposed design is based on informed assumptions of the most likely option for the panels and their positioning, however as with all technology, Solar PV is continually advancing and becoming more efficient and whilst various infrastructure components are described in this application, it is proposed that the most efficient infrastructural specifications available at the time of construction will be used. These may vary slightly from the indicative details described in this report, resulting in different configurations, angles and spacing between the panels, for example, but this is not expected to result in a significant departure from the details specified."

The planning statement also acknowledges that it is proposed that the lifespan of the proposed development will be 40 years.

"The Council will appreciate from their experience with renewable energy projects that developers have historically used an operational period of approximately 30 years when seeking planning consent for such schemes," the statement notes.

"These timescales were initially led by manufacturing guidelines and were originally based upon the expected lifespan of the infrastructure incorporated within the proposals. However, by virtue of technological advancements and industry experience, evidence now indicates that the expected operational lifespan of modern solar PV technology significantly exceeds the previously estimated 30 years. Current warranties for the onsite infrastructure extend to 40 years."

In relation to the site, the planning statement notes: "The solar farm, BESS and main infrastructure will occupy three fields of agricultural land currently being used for arable farming. The application site is generally well-enclosed, bound by a mixture of trees, mature hedgerows and post-and-wire fencing.

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"Areas of woodland located within the surrounding landscape provide further containment, located along the northern boundary of the site, and c.700m southeast. The Coill an Fhailtaigh Millennium Forest is also located c. 1km southwest. 

"The R695 and N76 are located c. 530m northwest and c. 1.22km southeast, respectively. The application site will be accessed from an existing access point off the R695 to the north. The proposed grid route will connect the solar farm and BESS to an existing substation c. 3km northeast.

"The surrounding area is predominately agricultural, characterised by mixed-scale field systems and isolated farms, with ribbon development along main routes.

"Within the surrounding area, Kilkenny Cricket Club is located c. 190m north of the site, and Kilkenny Airport is located c. 1.7km north."

The planning application is currently awaiting validation from Kilkenny County Council.

Subject to validation, a decision will be expected by June 10, 2025.

If Kilkenny County Council decides that further information is required from the applicant upon review of the application, the decision timeline may be extended.

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