Green light in Tipperary for major solar farm near Clonmel

Springmount Solar Farm Limited lodged plans with Tipperary County Council on June 22, 2023, for a ten-year planning permission for a development at lands to the north of the N24 National Road in the townlands of Jamestown, Kilmolash Upper, and Rathkeevin, County Tipperary.

The development involves the construction and operation of a 60MW solar PV farm consisting of solar arrays on ground mounted steel frames, with a maximum overall height of 2.6 metres. The plans include the installation of underground electrical cabling and ducting, up to 20 transformers, two temporary construction compounds, security fencing and cameras.

There is provision for two new gated site entrances from the R687 local roads, new internal access tracks, site drainage, landscaping, and all ancillary works. Planning permission was sought for a period of 10 years with an operational life of 40 years from the date of commissioning.

Further information was sought on August 15 last year, and this was furnished to the Council on February 22 this year.

Local resident Alice Slattery submitted that she was not against renewable energy or solar panels being located on the roofs of houses or other structures “and indeed the Council is to be commended for the work it has done on installing photovoltaic on local authority buildings.”

Ms Slattery wrote that she had concerns about the project’s close proximity to her home, ‘substantial’ glint and glare, and that Springmount Solar Farm will be developed on elevated prime agricultural land in the heart of the Golden Vale.

The project, situated on sloping lands looking down on to Clonmel, would put it into an area “to be avoided on account of a very significant potential for change of appearance or character due to the presence of development or use,” maintained Ms Slattery.

Concerns also centred on the risk of soil erosion, disruption to the ecosystem, possible negative effects on biodiversity, and the possible existence of protected species in the area.

“Can Tipperary County Council state categorically that there won’t be any risk of contamination to the groundwater or to the many springs, in aptly named Springmount, that lead into the River Suir, especially in the event of photovoltaic panels being damaged or the potential run off of chemicals used during the cleaning process,” asked Ms Slattery.

Thomas Slattery said he was objecting to the development of Springmount Solar Farm based on “the visual impact and the substantial effects of glint and glare looking out” from a certain house identified in the plans.

“How can Tipperary County Council deem it acceptable for the occupants of this house to have to sustain substantial glint and glare issues for five years or more before screening is in place,” asked Mr Slattery. “It is clear to see that this land is not low lying, development of a Solar Farm in this location will change the character of the surrounding landscape and the visual impact will be seen for miles.

“The location of this proposed development would contradict what is set out within the Renewable Energy Strategy 2016 and contradict the Renewable Energy Policy set out within the Tipperary development plan 2022-2028.

“Tipperary County Council should refuse planning given the magnitude of the zone of visual impact and change of character of the surrounding area.

“I would just like to state that I am not against Renewable Energy or Solar Farms, and I appreciate that the National Climate Action Plan has risen the target for renewable-sourced electricity to 80pc by 2030.

“However, there are more suitable locations within Tipperary and around the Country for these types of large-scale Solar Farm Projects,” added Mr Slattery.

The Council gave the go-ahead for the project on April 12, subject to 16 conditions.