Green light for Mayo solar farm

Mayo County Council have granted planning permission for the construction of a large-scale solar farm in the Claremorris area.

The local authority gave 10-year planning permission to H & H Renewables Ltd for the construction of a Solar PV farm consisting of up to 19,270 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on a site that may extend to up to 13.8 hectares in the townland of Clare, Claremorris.

The proposed development includes the installation of the solar PV panels on ground mounted frames and support structures, 40 inverters, underground cabling and ducting, security fencing, and CCTV cameras.

The planning permission also includes the use of an existing site entrance, internal access tracks, a temporary construction compound and an area of hardstanding for an electrical compound The electrical compound will consist of six modified shipping containers. Four of these units will accommodate the transformer stations with LV Switch Gear and ring main unit, the remaining two containers will serve as communication and storage containers.

The proposed development also includes drain reprofiling and settlement pond as part of peatland restoration works, landscaping, bio-diversity enhacement measures and all other associated site excavation, infrastructural and site development works above and below ground.

The operational lifespan of the solar PV development will be 35 years.