272-hectare solar farm proposed at Ahalahana and Moyvane North, Co. Kerry

In context

It is one of 11 solar farm applications Kerry County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 339 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

Anyone can make a submission or observation to Kerry County Council until 17 September 2026, for a fee of €20. Only those who make a submission can later appeal the decision. The council is due to decide by 8 October 2026, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

How to make a submission

The development description, as lodged

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

RED III Moyvane Solar Farm Limited intend to apply for permission for a 10-year planning permission for development at this site at Tarmon East, Leitrim East, Leitrim Middle, Aughrim, Glannalappa West, Glannalappa Middle, Ahalahana and Moyvane North, Co. Kerry. This development will consist of the construction of a solar photovoltaic (‘PV’) farm and associated ancillary development on ca. 272-hectare (‘ha’) site consisting of: I. Solar PV panels laid out in arrays on ground-mounted frames, covering an area of ca. 823,310m2; II. Solar PV panels laid out in arrays supported by ballast footing covering an area of ca. 8,948m2; III. String inverters attached to selected solar panel arrays; IV. 27No. transformer units (ca. 6.1m x 2.4m); V. 33kV underground collector circuit and communications cabling within private lands and within the L1012, L1015, L1014, L6023 and L1021 public roads; VI. Pole-mounted security cameras; VII. Perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates; VIII. Upgrade of 8No. existing permanent Site entrances on the L1015, L1012, L1014 and L6023 public roads; IX. Development of 4No. new permanent Site entrances on the L1015, L1021 and L6023 public roads; X. 3No. temporary main construction compounds and 1No. temporary staging area; XI. The installation of 20No. new box culverts across drainage ditches, 10No. new box culverts across watercourses and the upgrade of 2No. existing box culverts across watercourses; XII. 2No. Horizontal Directional Drilling (‘HDD’) crossings (i) under the L1021 local road and (ii) under Ahalahana River to facilitate 33kV underground collector circuit cabling to the future 110kV looped-in substation; XIII. 4No. storage containers (ca. 2.6m high x 3m wide x 12.2m long); XIV. Ca. 11ha of Habitat Management Lands; and, XV. Drainage infrastructure, internal access tracks, landscaping, reinstatement works and all associated ancillary development. A 40-year operational life from the date of full commissioning of the entire solar farm is being sought for all works (other than temporary works specified above), and the subsequent decommissioning. A Natura Impact Statement will accompany the planning application.