40-hectare solar farm proposed at Dunnstown Johnstown or Dunshane, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 23 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 353 nationally. Of the 562 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 development will consist of: • Ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels with a module surface area of 150,000m2 • 5 No. Inverter/Transformer centre/RMUs and hardstands • 3 No. Weather Stations • 4 No. spare parts storage containers • Provision of new site access tracks and upgrade of existing tracks • Underground electrical ducting and cable within the solar farm site and under the L6044 local road to connect the solar farm field parcels • Undergrounding of c. 200m of overhead line • 3 No. temporary construction compounds • 2 new site entrances taken from the L6044 • All ancillary development including landscaping, an up to 2.4m high stock proof fence, CCTV and drainage infrastructure.