65.4-hectare solar farm proposed at Mullycagh Upper, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 10 solar farm applications Wicklow 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 Wicklow County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

development which will consist of the construction of a Solar PV development, a Battery Energy Storage System facility (BESS) and all ancillary works on a ca. 65.4 ha site consisting of: (I) Solar PV panels laid out in arrays across the Site; (ii)A 38kV substation building ((13.8 (l) and 7.4 (w)) and associated compound area, (iii)a transformer unit (ca. 5.8m x ca. 8.45m) and associated bund; (iv)192 number Battery Energy Storage System units comprising 22 modules (ca. 3.1m x ca.3.1m); (iv)6 MV Skid/Power Hubs (ca. 9.45m x ca.2.1m), (v)24 number inverter units (ca. 3m x ca.2.6m); (vi)Upgrade of 1 No. existing Site entrance; (vii)1 No. temporary construction compound; (viii)Electrical and communications cabling; (ix)Pole-mounted security cameras; (x)Perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates; (xi)Internal access tracks; and, (xii)All associated ancillary development, landscaping and reinstatement works The operational lifetime of the proposed development will be 40-years. A Natura Impact Statement will accompany the planning application