67.3-hectare solar farm proposed at Kilmoyemoge West, Kilmoyemoge East, Co. Waterford

In context

It is one of 18 solar farm applications Waterford City and County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 347 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 Waterford City and County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

for a 10-year planning permission for will consist of the construction of a photovoltaic (‘PV’) farm and associated ancillary development on a ca. 67.3 hectare site consisting of: Solar PV panels laid out in arrays on ground-mounted frames, covering an area of ca. 201,002m2; Solar PV panels laid out in arrays supported by ballast footing covering an area of ca. 3,825m2; 11 No. inverter transformer units (ca. 6.1m x 2.4m); 33kV underground collector circuit and communications cabling within private lands and within the L4026/L40262 public roads, including cabling works to connect to a proposed future 110kV substation; Pole-mounted security cameras; Perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates; 1 No. new permanent site entrance on the L4026; Localised permanent carriageway widening at the junction of the Site entrance and the L4026; 1 No. temporary construction compound; Installation of 2 No. new box culverts across watercourses and 1 No. new box culvert across a drainage ditch; Drainage infrastructure including infiltration basins, swales and land drains, internal access tracks, landscaping and reinstatement works; and, All associated ancillary development. A 40-year operational life from the date of full commissioning of the entire solar farm is being sought for all works (other than temporary works specified above), and the subsequent decommissioning. A Natura Impact Statement will accompany the planning application. A separate planning application for the future 110kV substation and associated grid connection will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála (‘ACP’) as these proposed future elements fall within the Strategic Infrastructure Development (‘SID’) consent process under Section 182A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413), and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) shall apply.