Limerick County Council refuses permission for wind farm grid connection works at Carrons and Lisbane, Co. Limerick

In context

It is one of 3 wind energy applications Limerick County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% 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 27 March 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

six (6) wind turbines with a tip height of 158m, a rotor diameter of 136m and all associated foundations and hardstanding areas. A 38kV on-site substation compound containing a substation building, associated electrical equipment and transformers with separate client side and ESB entrances. The building will contain a control room, switchgear room, ESB room and store room, underground electrical and communications cabling between the wind turbines and on-site substation. Grid Connection Option A: 2.54km-long 38kV underground cable connection from the on-site substation to the existing Carrons substation to the west of the site. Grid Connection Option B: Loop into the existing 38kV onsite overhead line via the proposed 38kV substation. A new temporary site entrance off the L1219 local road to the west of the permanent site entrance for the construction phase only. Upgrade of an existing farm entrance and access track off the L1219 local road in the northwest of the site to serve as a permanent site entrance for the wind farm when operational. Approximately 3.4km of new site access tracks with associated turning areas and drainage. This includes approximately 490m of temporary access tracks which will be reinstated following construction. Upgrade of approximately 470m of existing site access tracks. A 9m-long clear span bridge crossing of the Ahacronane River by an internal site access track to the northwest of turbine T1 and an associated 1.5m x 1.0m relief culvert. A permanent meteorological mast with a height of 90m, a foundation and hardstand. Two (2) material storage areas with a total capacity of approximately 39,300m3. A temporary construction compound with an area of approximately 1,375m2. All associated site development works, including drainage, diversion or undergrounding of low voltage powerlines, landscaping and revegetation. This planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) which have been prepared in respect of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed development, and works to facilitate turbine delivery from the port of Foynes to the wind farm site entrance via L6188, N69, L1222, L1220 and L1219. The Applicant is seeking a 10-year planning permission and 35-year operational life, initiating from the date of full commissioning of the entire wind farm. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Di