Snail's pace switch to solar highlighted at meeting

PAUL MURPHY

Just six out of 52 planning applications granted for the construction of solar farms in Meath have started, a meeting of Meath County Council has been told.

A presentation on planning considerations around the construction of the farms was delivered to councilors by executive planner at the council, Frank O’Donnell.

So far in Co Meath there have been 52 applications for solar farms on 46 individual sites. Thirty four applications were granted (14 of which were granted on appeal to An Bord Pleanala). Four were refused, three of them after appealing to ABP. Four appeals are pending and four decisions were pending at Meath County Council. Six solar farms have started. The majority of permissions are for 10 years. Some applications date back to 2015 ranging from three megawatts to 220mw in size.

Of the 52 applications on 46 sites, 22 were refused, 14 were granted, three were withdrawn and four were pending with ABP. A breakdown of applications for permission was also given – Ashbourne 15, Kells five, Laytown-Bettystown 10, Navan one, Ratoath nine and Trim six. Applications were mainly focused on the east and Southeast of the county.

Mr O’Donnell said that solar power was a clean source of energy, they had policy support at national, regional and local level, each application was assessed on normal planning and environmental considerations.

The presentation was delivered by county council executive planner Frank O’Donnell killed off one of the myths surrounding solar power, that direct sunlight is needed in order to generate electricity. The intensity of available light is the main factor in the efficiency of solar panels. He showed images of a solar farm operating in Co. Antrim which covered 180 acres and where the field patterns and hedgerows had been left intact.

He also described the process of obtaining planning permission for solar farms staring with pre-planning discussions between the developer and the local authority, the lodging of planning application to the local planning authority, possible contact between An Bord Pleanala and the local authority. There is also the possibility of a developer applying directly to An Bord Pleanala for permission under strategic infrastructure development measures.

There may also be an application by a developer to Eirgrid in order to ascertain whether generated electricity can be subsumed into the national grid. Applications have to have regard to national, regional planning guidelines an also the local county development plan. Also taken into account will be planning policy, planning principles, EIA screening, appropriate assessment, ecological impact assessment, impact on existing and potential residential areas, access issues consultation, consultation on glint and glare, aviation impact, waste water issues, landscaping visual impact, archaeological and cultural impact and flooding impact