Plans have been submitted for a €141 million solar farm project in County Kildare, covering 428 acres across the townlands of Cadamstown, Ballina, Clonuff, and Garrisker. The proposal, from Cadamstown Solar Ltd, seeks planning approval from Kildare County Council for the development of a 118 MW solar farm located 9.55 km from Kinnegad.
The development would involve the installation of solar panels across 39 agricultural fields. According to the planning report, the project is expected to provide a reliable and sustainable revenue stream for local landowners while enhancing the site's ecological value. Once decommissioned, the land is set to be restored for future agricultural use, including pasture.
The report also highlights the scale of the investment, noting that solar farms typically require €6 million per 5 MW of capacity. With the proposed farm generating 118 MW, the total capital investment is projected to reach approximately €141 million.
Along with the solar panels and necessary electrical infrastructure, the development will require various support services such as haulage, welfare facilities for workers, waste and recycling management, transport, and possibly temporary accommodation for construction staff.
The project is expected to result in significant environmental benefits, including a major reduction in CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuel power generation, and it aligns with County Kildare’s renewable energy targets.
A separate application will be submitted for the solar farm’s grid connection, involving a “loop-in loop-out” substation. This will be processed under the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) procedure, which can only proceed once the solar farm's planning approval is granted.
Currently, the site is used for a mix of arable farming, pasture, and some cut-over bogland. In terms of visual impact, the planning report states that any changes within 250 meters of the site are expected to be minimal, with very low or negligible effects beyond that range.
A decision on the planning application is anticipated by January 2025.