Carlow County Council grants permission for 11.8-hectare solar farm at Nua Manufacturing, O’ Brien Road, Co. Carlow

In context

It is one of 2 solar farm applications Carlow County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 16 February 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Carlow County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Ground Mounted Photovoltaic array covering an area of 2200m2 (0.22 hectares) to be located west of the factory. PV panels are ground mounted on steel frames with associated electrical cabinet / switch room including 4 no. battery storage kiosks and 3 no. invertors and all associated cables / ducting connecting back to the factory and all associated site development works