A green energy supplier has secured planning permission for a 95-hectare solar farm in south-east Clare on its second attempt.
Clare County Council has given the go-ahead to Meath-based firm GP Joule Ireland Limited for its proposed renewable energy development in rural Newmarket-on-Fergus.
After withdrawing its previous application for a similar 109-hectare development which it submitted last December, GP Joule Ireland Limited tabled plans for a scaled-down 95-hectare project in August of this year.
The new application details plans for a solar PV farm primarily consisting of ground-mounted solar arrays in the townlands of Mogullaan, Crossagh, Ralahine South, Drumline and Ballycasey Beg.
It’s stated that the arrays would be supported by steel frames and an internal network cable which would be installed to enable an under-the fence connection from an on-site transformer compound to the Drumline 110-kilovolt substation.
Several public submissions have been made in relation to the development, including by local resident Gerard McMahon who described it as “deeply worrying” and raised concerns relating to visual impact, fire risk, flooding, glint and glare, and various other matters.
Planning permission was granted for the development on November 14th subject to 14 conditions including that the solar panels not be located within 30 metres of any dwelling on the L3166 local road.
