Kildare County Council refuses permission for 105 MW solar farm at Naas, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 333 nationally. Of the 572 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 6 February 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for a period of 10 years to construct and complete a solar PV Energy Development with a total site area of 128.66 hectares comprising of electrical and inverter substations, modules, solar PV ground mounted on support structures, temporary construction compounds, internal access tracks, security fencing, electrical cabling and ducting, CCTV and other ancillary infrastructure. The solar farm would be operational for 40 years. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted with the application. The export capacity to the grid is estimated be c. 105MW MEC. Revised by Significant Further Information which consists of the addition of a temporary construction access which has been included within the red and blue line boundaries