Construction BUSINESS

Plans for a major solar energy farm on a 27-hectare site in Co Wicklow have been approved by Wicklow County Council. The permission comes as the Government is preparing a new renewable energy support scheme scheduled to be operational by the first half of 2018.

Proposed by BNRGN Millvale Ltd, the solar farm near Rathnew, north of Wicklow Town, includes photo-voltaic panels covering an area of 182,120sq m on steel frames, with a maximum height of about 2.5m. The permission follows Wicklow County Council’s decision in April to grant planning approval for a separate solar energy farm at Ballinaclough, Rathnew, to Gaelelectric Energy Developments.

The 10-year permission covers underground cabling, fencing and access tracks as well as an electrical sub-station. The permission is currently under appeal to An Bord Pleanála, with a decision expected next month.

Solar energy is currently receiving renewed interest around the world following claims from the industry that the cost of solar photo-voltaic technology fell by 80 per cent from 2008 to 2013.

While solar energy farms are significantly less visually intrusive and do not create noise , Ireland has no renewable energy support scheme for solar power – unlike wind energy. However, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten has warned wind farm developers not to expect too much support from Government. Earlier this year he told the Energy Institute – an international body for professionals in the energy field – there were already enough solar power applications in the pipeline to provide more than 4000MW of the Republic’s energy requirement. Mr Naughten said approval for grid connections and providing a renewable energy subsidy for of all current solar power applications would be very expensive.