32 MW solar farm proposed at Coolnafearagh, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Kildare 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 Kildare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

RED III Application - Linear arrays of solar PV panels on ground mounted steel supported structures with associated cabling and ducting; 4 no. proposed single storey inverter stations; All associated underground cabling (within and between land parcels), including onsite control and switch gear room; Site Perimeter fencing; 2 no. new site entrances with palisade double security gates; 2 no. temporary construction compound/carpark/material storage areas with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing; 3 no. temporary and 1 no. permanent steel storage containers; Site access tracks including passing and turning bays; On-site pole mounted CCTV cameras; 2 no. bottomless culverts; 2 no. temporary construction stage Moby Dick type wheel wash systems; 1 no. Concrete wash out location (within the westernmost temporary construction compound); and All associated and ancillary works. The proposed solar farm development spans a total site area measuring 60.36 ha, of which 37.66 ha is located in Co. Kildare and 22.7 ha is located in Co. Laois. Permission is sought for a period of 10 years with an operational period of 40 years. The total capacity of Solar PV on the site is estimated to be 32 MW.