Plans lodged for 413 acre solar farm in mid-Louth

Plans have been lodged with Louth County Council this week for a solar farm on a site of around 167 hectares (412.6 acres) in mid-Louth.

Knockdinnin Solar Farm Limited has applied for planning permission for the development at Dromin, Knockatober, Cangy, Mooremount, Richardstown (ED Stabannan), Painestown, Ballymageragh and Knockdinnin, County Louth, which would if given the go ahead, consist of the construction of a solar PV development and Battery Energy Storage System facility (BESS).

The development would comprise solar PV panels laid out in arrays across the site on ground mounted frames, with string inverters attached to selected ground mounted frames, and would include 12 transformer units. The BESS facility would consist of 368 BESS modules; one transformer unit; eight power electronic compact twin skids; a control unit circa 12m2; and 2m high landscaping berm; and perimeter security fencing, 2.4m high.

The application also provides for electrical and communications cabling within private lands and within the L2254, R170 and R211/R132 public roads; pole-mounted security cameras; perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates.

It also included the upgrade of three existing site entrances; the development of the new site entrances; three temporary construction compounds; three clear span bridges; internal access tracks; and all associated ancillary development, landscaping and reinstatement works.

A decision is due on the application, which is at a pre-validation stage, by 11 June, with submissions due by 21 May 2025.

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