Locals notified of potential 474-acre solar farm in Carlow to power 36,000 homes

Local residents have been notified that Ballyloo Solar Farm Limited is preparing a planning application for a proposed solar farm in the townlands of Ballybar Upper, Garryhundon, Ballyloo, Ballyryan and Linkardstown in County Carlow.

Ballyloo Solar Farm Limited is a company set up by Terra Solar. Terra Solar, established in 2015, has to date consented approximately thirty-five solar farms in Ireland.

The proposed site in Carlow is circa 474 acres and is situated on agricultural lands located approximately 1.9k southwest of Tinryland, 5.1km northeast of Leighlinbridge.

The Ballyloo Solar Farm will use solar panels to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The solar farm does not include any battery storage and all electrical cables will be located underground.

The solar farm is proposed to have a electrical export capacity of 155MV to the national electricity grid network. This is equivalent of enough electricity to power almost 36,000 homes which may otherwise be powered using fossil fuels.

Renewable electricity currently accounts for 38.6% of the electricity mix in the country. Ireland's 'Climate Action Plan' aims to increase the proportion of renewable electricity up to 80% by 2030 and sets out a target of 8,000MV from solar farms by 2030. Ballyloo Solar Farm aims to make a valuable contribution to the national target and be a part of a global shift towards sustainable electricity production and lower emissions.

Ballyloo Solar Farm will have panels which will reach a maximum height of 3.25m. There will be minimal ground disturbance during the construction of this development and the land can continue to be used for agricultural activity (sheep grazing, etc.).

The solar farm layout has been designed to minimise impact on local plants and animals. Mammal friendly fencing will allow local fauna to move freely across the site undisturbed. The wide field margins and areas of open grassland will be managed to create and enhance habitats for local birds and other wildlife.

The existing field boundaries will be maintained, and the existing hedgerows will be supplemented with new planting to aid in panel screening. Hedgerows will be maintained to ensure a minimal effect on current views.

Ballyloo Solar Farm Limited has said 'the operation of the solar farm will be of minimal disturbance to local residents, walkers or motorists.'

To ensure no unauthorised access, security fencing up to 2.4m height will be installed and CCTV cameras will be directed internally within the solar farm only (no camera will be directed on other properties).

Other equipment and works proposed as part of the solar farm includes modular containers which will include equipment such as inverters/ transformers stations and spare parts, weather statins and new and refurbished access tracks. 

A new substation is proposed which will be located within the solar farm approximately 8.4km from the existing ESB Kellis substation. An underground cable grid connection will transport electricity from the new solar farm substation to the existing ESB Kellis substation.

The planning application for Ballyloo Solar Farm will be submitted to Carlow County Council and there will be an opportunity to make a submission on the application.

The substation and underground cable grid connection will require an application to An Bord Pleanála. A team of experienced independent consultants have been appointed by Ballyloo Solar Farm Ltd. to prepare reports relating to different environmental and engineering aspects of the development. These reports (landscape and visual, noise, glint and glare, archaeology, ecology, etc.) will be included in the planning application.

The operational lifetime of the solar farm will be forty years. After the forty years, the solar farm will be removed in consultation with Carlow County Council and the land will be reinstated where it can continue to be used for agricultural purposes.