Solar farm proposed at Condonstown, Pigeonhill, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 52 solar farm applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 335 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

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

10 year planning permission for the construction of, and a 40 year operation and subsequent decommissioning of, a development consisting of a 118-hectare solar farm, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and underground grid connection route (red line boundary). The solar farm comprises of four separate land parcels divided by local roads. The underground cable route comprises public roads L7634, L7635, L7637, L7633, L7631, L7604, L7609, L7610, L3617 and R626 to connect to Knockraha 220kV substation & Lysaghtstown 110kV substation. The proposed solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will consist of a series of ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, mounted on steel support structures and in some areas on concrete shoes to protect possible underground archaeological features, together with electrical transformation enclosures, underground cabling, 3 no. HDDs, 3 no. temporary construction compounds, 1no. storage container, battery units, a synchronous condenser, the use of existing farm access tracks, existing site entrances, 1 no. new maintenance entrance connecting to an existing private access track ,inverters, CCTV poles and cameras, deer type security/boundary fencing, palisade fencing, landscaping and biodiversity measures and all associated ancillary development works, for the purpose of generating and storing renewable energy electricity and transmitting it in the townlands of Condonstown, Pigeonhill, Aghaduff, Ballynabrannagh East, Ballynabrannagh West, Ballyvatta, Lysaghtstown, Ballinbrittig, Ballyleary, Ballynakilla, Cloneen, Garranes, Lackenbehy, Dooneen and Woodstock, Co.Cork. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the planning application. The proposed development is covered by the provision of the Renewable Energy Directive III (directive2023/2024).