Plans lodged for 229 acre solar farm in North Galway
Action group formed
A PLANNING application for a solar farm on 229 acres (93 hectares) of land in the Turloughmore, Lackagh and Knockdoe areas has been lodged with Galway County Council.
Blackthorn Solar Farm, a subsidiary of BayWa r.e. Ireland Ltd, is seeking a ten-year permission for the development on lands in the townlands of Knockdoemore, Lackagh Beg, Knockdoebeg West and Cahernashilleeny, in the vicinity of the Claregalway and Turloughmore GAA grounds.
The proposed solar farm would have a lifespan of 40 years and the capacity to generate up to 69MW of electricity for the national grid, or power more than 14,000 homes.
An action group has been set up in the local area in response to the planned project. The developers held a public information event at Turloughmore GAA club earlier this month.
“At the end of the operational period, the site would be decommissioned and the land reinstated in accordance with the relevant planning requirements,” a spokesperson for BayWa r.e. Ireland Ltd told The Tuam Herald.
“At this stage, it is not possible to provide a definitive operational date. Subject to planning and the necessary grid connection requirements, construction would be expected to take approximately 12 months.
“The closest proposed PV panel would be approximately 246metres from the nearest point of the Claregalway GAA grounds, and approximately 366metres from the nearest point of the Turloughmore GAA grounds.”
Setback distance
The solar farm would be connected to an existing overhead line via a 110kV substation. There would be access to the site from the N83 and L21332.
The solar panels would be a standard height of 3.7 metres and have a minimum setback distance of 53 metres from surrounding properties.
A community benefit fund for a 15-year period under the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) will be set up if the project is granted planning permission.
Local authority planners have until November 10 to make a decision on the application.
The Blackthorn Solar Farm is one of a number of solar farm planning applications in the North East Galway region currently with local authority planners.
The Belville Solar Farm project on 590 acres of land in Abbeyknockmoy, Ballyglunin and Monivea was lodged in August with Galway County Council, while last March, Robin Solar Ltd submitted a proposal for a solar farm on 97 acres between Athenry and Oranmore.