Mayo County Council grants permission for 23 MW solar farm at Belleek, Ballina, Co. Mayo

In context

It is one of 3 solar farm applications Mayo 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 9 December 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

The development will consist of a solar PV farm on a total site area of 16.5 hectares (ha.), to include the following elements: • linear solar photovoltaic (PV) panel arrays, providing an output of up to 23MW, ground mounted on steel supported structures with associated cabling and ducting; • 42 no. ground mounted inverters; • 3 no. transformer substations; • 9 no. battery storage containers (providing up to 16MW of battery storage); • construction of culverts along an existing drain; • a new site access; • Upgrades to an existing site entrance, including the removal of existing wall and piers, resurfacing to TII standards, and the installation of double security gates; • pole mounted CCTV cameras at 12 no. locations; • 2.4m high security fencing; • permeable gravel access tracks; • demolition of 2 no. existing derelict structures (a cottage and a shed), and the installation of a temporary construction compound/material storage area; • a temporary construction stage wheelwash system; • a 38kV underground cable connecting to the existing factory site; and • all associated ancillary development services.