No go for Connolly Meats turbine
Monaghan-based Connolly Meats have been refused planning permission to build an 850kW wind turbine at their plant. The turbine, 91m in height, was set to have a hub height of 65m and a rotor diameter of 52m.
Elsewhere, installation has begun on Country Crest’s new wind turbine at their premises in Dublin. The 2.3MW turbine will have a rotor diameter of 82m and a total height of 119m. The site is home to an existing 1MW wind turbine, installed in 2009.
327ac Carlow solar farm appealed
Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland has appealed Carlow County Council’s decision to refuse permission for a 327ac solar farm and battery system at Straboe and Killerrig in Carlow.
Among the reasons for refusal, the council cited concerns that the plan would set a precedent for solar development in rural areas and harm the character of the historic Duckett’s Grove house.
In its appeal, Lightsource argues that the decision misapplied relevant policy, was not supported by the evidence and ignored planning precedent. The appeal contends the project is consistent with national renewable energy goals. A final ruling may not be made until 2026.
US renewables industry in turmoil
Turmoil in the US renewables industry continues. Wind giant Ørsted’s share price has yet to recover after the Trump administration halted the nearly completed (about 80%) Revolution Wind project.
The administration also plans to revoke permits for a major Maryland wind project expected to power more than 700,000 homes.
The administration is also a strong critic of solar. The USDA, under Secretary Brooke Rollins, this month prohibited taxpayer funding for solar panels on prime agricultural land and banned panels sourced from “foreign adversaries”.
US renewable energy investment in the first half of 2025 fell by 36%.
Cover crops biofuel Irish deadline
Ireland and EU member states have until 15 September 2025 to change laws and regulations to allow catch and cover crops to become eligible feedstocks for advanced biofuels and biogas under the bloc’s renewables law.
A new European Commission directive, first proposed in 2024, also expands eligible biofuel feedstocks to crops grown on “severely degraded land”, as well as damaged crops which are not fit for food or feed use.
Intermediate, catch and cover crops from single-harvest areas are now classified as advanced biofuels, provided they do not trigger demand for additional land and soil organic matter content is maintained.