Plans for a 470ac solar farm in Kilkenny have been approved by Kilkenny County Council.

Drumdowney Solar Farm Ltd has secured 10-year planning permission for the project, which will include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels, electrical inverter and transformer stations, underground cabling, CCTV and associated access works.

A total of 11 landowners are involved in the project and, once constructed, the solar farm will operate for 40 years.

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The development will span the townlands of Atateemore, Ballyhobuck, Ballyrahan, Carriganurra, Charlestown, Davidstown, Drumdowney Lower, Drumdowney Upper, Gorteens, Grogan, Kilmurry, Nicholastown, Rathpatrick, Scartnamoe, Tinvaucoosh and Treanaree.

The solar farm was granted permission subject to 42 conditions, including a requirement that the developer pay a financial contribution of €1,353,840 to the Planning Authority.

The project received just a handful of objections, which has become rare for a solar farm of this scale.

Approval

In its decision, Kilkenny County Council said the solar farm would be in accordance with renewable energy policies and the provisions of the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027.

It said the development would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area or nearby properties, would not significantly interfere with any protected views or prospects of importance, and would not have an unacceptable impact on the character of the landscape, cultural or archaeological heritage, or ecology.