Massive €20m solar farm development given go ahead for Celbridge, Kildare

Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a €20m solar farm development in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

The proposed development will take place on lands in the townland of Griffinrath, Celbridge, Kildare.

The development will consist of the construction of a solar PV farm with an operational life of 35 years, comprising approximately 76,000 photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames within a site area of 44.21 hectares.

Also included in the plans is associated ancillary development including 10 transformer stations, approximately 124 string-inverters, one onsite 38kv substation building, one 40ft storage container building, and seven CCTV security cameras mounted on four metre high poles.

The plans also provide for perimeter security fencing (two metres high), the construction of an internal hardcore access road between the solar panels and the site access, localised improvements to an existing agricultural access from the adjoining L5065 road to facilitate construction and operational phase access and, and the installation of a 38kv underground electricity cable from the onsite 38kv substation to the 110kv Griffinrath substation ca. 0.75km to the southeast.

A Natura impact statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development.

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