A renewable energy development which is intended to power almost 12,000 homes has been proposed for a site in rural Clare.
BNRG Ballycunneen Limited is looking for planning permission to build a 60-megawatt solar farm on a 105-hectare site to the northeast of Shannon.
Tobin Consulting Engineers has submitted a planning application on behalf of BNRG for the solar farm.
The project would be located on a 105-hectare site comprising four parcels of land in the townlands of Ballycunneen, Drumline, Ballycasey More, Clonmoney West, Firgrove, and Ardkyle.
Approximately 40 hectares of the site would be covered by linear arrays of solar photovoltaic panels on ground-mounted steel-supported structures.
These, the application states, would be contacted to the nearby Drumline 110-kilovolt substation, while an additional 11 medium-voltage single-storey stations would be constructed.
Other aspects of the proposed development include a co-located battery energy storage system installation, site perimeter fencing, palisade double security gates, three permanent site entrances and site access tracks.
Planning permission is being sought for a period of 10 years and the project would have an operational period of 40 years.
The application says it will “help minimise the dependence on imported fossil fuels and will power approximately 11,700 homes locally” while eliminating “up to 17,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifespan”.
Submissions in relation to the application can be made up until October 15th while a decision is due on the project by November 5th.
