Over 2000 acres for solar farm in Galway
Plans for 200 acre project in Turloughmore area
ANOTHER solar farm taking in over 200 acres of land is being planned for North East Galway in the Knockdoe and Turloughmore areas.
Blackthorn Solar Farm is proposing a solar farm on 227acres (92 hectares) of land in the townlands of Knockdoemore, Lackagh Beg, Knockdoebeg West and Cahernashilleeny.
The development is the latest planned for the North East Galway region, where over 2,000acres of land has been earmarked for solar farm developments stretching from Creggs to Athenry-Oranmore.
The 40-year solar farm is being proposed for townlands in Knockdoemore, Lackagh Beg, Knockdoebeg West and Cahernashilleeny by Blackthorn Solar Farm Limited, a subsidiary of BayWa r.e. Ireland Ltd.
It's earmarked for lands near Turloughmore and Claregalway GAA grounds. An information event on the project was organised by the developers in Turloughmore GAA Club on Wednesday between 4-8pm.
The solar farm will be decommissioned after the 40 years and the land returned to its original use, and a 110kV substation that will connect the development to an existing overhead line.
Access to the planned solar farm will be via two entrances from the N83 and the L21332, according to the website associated with the project. The solar panels will be a standard height of 3.7metres and have a minimum setback distance of 53metres from homes in the area.
The solar farm has the potential to produce energy for more than 14,000 homes and a community benefit fund across a 15-year period will be provided under the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) if the solar farm is granted planning permission by Galway County Council.
The Blackthorn Solar Farm is one of several solar farm projects in North East Galway, which have been granted planning permission, are under planning consideration, or are being proposed.
Three solar farms on the old Athenry Road outside Tuam, covering 368acres, have been granted planning approval by the County Council since 2020. Local authority planners gave planning permission for the Ballymoneen Solar Farm on 348acres in the Cregmore area in 2021.
A planning application for the Belville Solar Farm project in Abbeyknockmoy, Ballyglunin and Monivea, on 590acres of land, was lodged last month with the local authority and has raised significant concerns from local residents.
In 2024, local authority planners gave the green light for a solar farm to be built in the Creggs area on 264acres.
Robin Solar Ltd applied to the County Council in March to build a solar farm on 97acres between Athenry and Oranmore, while in 2018, Terra Solar II Limited were granted permission to build a solar farm on 175acres in the area.