Residents worry that the development could harm the area’s ‘rural character’
Aerial view of solar panels on a solar farm(Image: Getty Images )
Planning permission has been granted for a new solar farm in East Cork, expected to generate enough power to meet the energy needs of hundreds of households. The development in Carrigogna, a rural townland around 2.5km north of Midleton, is one of several solar farms proposed for the region as Cork continues its push towards renewables.
The planning application was lodged by Amarenco, a Cork-headquartered renewables company co-founded in 2013 by the late John Mullins. The company employs over 200 people across Ireland and the EU, with more than 800 projects under its belt.
This latest development near Midleton will see solar panels installed across an 8.85-hectare site just north of the East Cork town. Once built, Amarenco estimates the site will generate up to 8MW of electricity, depending on weather conditions.
Amarenco was granted permission for a large array of photovoltaic panels on ground-mounted frames, a single-storey delivery station and a single-storey transformer station. The application also included plans for new site entrances, CCTV monitoring, security fencing and all associated site works.
However, the plans faced their fair share of pushback from local residents, with many raising concerns about construction noise, glare from the panels, and broader visual impacts on the quiet, rural area.
One resident who submitted an objection said they feared the development could drive down property values and destroy the ‘peaceful country environment’ that locals currently enjoy. Another objector raised concerns about the glint and glare from the solar panels potentially causing issues for road users.
Flooding and the ecological impacts of the development were the most common objections raised by locals, and while these were taken into consideration by Cork County Council, planning was ultimately granted at the start of the month.
Planning was granted subject to 19 conditions, including measures to reduce environmental risks during construction and operation, the commissioning of an archaeologist during the clearing works, and the site being fully restored after the panels finish out their lifespan. Amarenco will be required to decommission and restore the site to its natural state after 35 years.
Elsewhere, the company has received approval for a major solar project in North Cork that will generate enough electricity to power 4,500 homes.
Amarenco has secured permission for a development at Castlelyons, near Rathcormac. The project will cover 47 hectares across four sites and is expected to generate enough electricity to power 4,500 homes.
A Coimisiún Pleanála granted permission for the major power project, located just south of Fermoy, in an area that has seen significant investment in renewables in recent years.