Galway County Council grants permission for 70 MW solar farm at South Galway, Co. Galway

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Galway 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 applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 18 November 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for a proposed solar farm development consisting of: linear arrays of solar PV panels on ground mounted steel supported structures with associated cabling and ducting; 12 no. proposed single storey MV stations; 1 no. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installation (including 32 no. containers with cells and 8no. Power Conversion System (PCS) MV Stations) with associated security fencing and gates; Site perimeter fencing; 4 no. new permanent site entrances, 1 no. new temporary site entrance, 1 no. upgrade to an existing site entrance; Security gates at all permanent and temporary access points; Site access tracks including passing and turning bays; 3 no. temporary construction compound/carpark/material storage areas with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing; 6 no. steel storage containers; 6 no. turning bays; On-site pole mounted CCTV cameras; 3 no. temporary construction stage Moby Dick type wheel wash systems; 3 no. concrete wash out locations (one within each temporary construction compound); and, all associated and ancillary works. The proposed solar farm development spans a total site area measuring 86.3ha. Permission is sought for a period of 10 years with an operational period of 40 years. The export capacity to the grid is estimated to be up to 70 MW. The development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413). The planning application is subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply. An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report (AASR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared for this development and submitted with this planning application. A separate application to obtain permission for a 110kV grid connection and 110kV substation to facilitate the export of power from the solar farm, will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The planning application including the AASR and NIS