It has been a busy month in the Irish planning system, with over 1,100ac of solar farm projects either approved or submitted across the country.

Many of the projects granted permission so far this year will be participating in the latest Government-backed renewable energy support scheme, which offers 15 years of State-guaranteed support for solar and wind farm developments.

Cadamstown Solar Ltd has secured approval from An Bord Pleanála for the development of a €67.2m solar farm in the townlands of Mulgeeth and Mucklon, Kildare.

The project, which spans approximately 196ac and involves three landowners, had initially received planning permission before it was appealed. Following a review, An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld the original decision, granting final permission subject to 18 conditions.

Once completed, the solar farm is expected to generate approximately 56 megawatt hours of electricity.

In Kilkenny, BNRG Rosehill Ltd has applied for permission for a 62ac solar farm with battery storage. The site is located just west of Kilkenny city.

Elsewhere, Drumdowney Solar Farm Ltd is seeking 10-year permission for a 470ac solar farm in south Kilkenny. The solar farm spans 16 townlands and involves 11 land owners.

Castlebank Green Energy Ltd has received approval to develop a 90ac solar farm near Ardnacrusha, Clare, despite a small number of objections.

The development includes a new grid connection via a 1.2km underground 38kV cable, linking the on-site substation to the existing grid infrastructure at Ardnacrusha Power Station.

Cork, Cavan and Meath

Amarenco Solar Rathcormac Ltd has been granted a 10-year planning permission for a 115ac solar farm near Fermoy, Cork.

The application received no objections. In Cavan, Colwell Brothers Ltd has received planning permission for a 14.5ac solar farm in Killeshandra.

Elsewhere, Solar Farmers Ltd has secured permission for a 156ac solar farm spanning the townlands of Knavinstown and Coolfore, near Ashbourne, Meath.

In Wicklow, Crag Wicklow Ltd is seeking planning permission for a 39ac solar farm and two warehouses on a site north of the existing Kish Business Park in Arklow, next to proposed data centres.

Refused

Elsewhere, a proposed 67ac solar farm near Arklow has been refused planning permission by Wicklow County Council. BNRG Seabank Limited’s proposed development, which included a battery storage system was rejected on three grounds.

Among the reasons for refusal was that the planner felt concerns that it would industrialise the landscape and negatively impact the scenic coastal rural area.