Concern over ‘piecemeal’ Galway solar farm application as questions emerge on full project scope
Concerns have been raised over a major solar farm planning application in Co Galway, with local representatives questioning whether the documents lodged with Galway County Council clearly reflect the full scope of the project.
Heron Solar Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Capital Renewable Energy (PCRE), submitted an application on August 7 for the Belleville Solar Farm Project near Athenry.
The application seeks a 10-year planning permission for more than one million square metres of solar panels across 239 hectares in Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea areas, along with mounting poles and associated works.
The proposed development covers lands in the townlands of Lissaniska, Oakwood South, Cahernaglass, Ryehill Demesne, Carrowmore, Parkacurry, Killaclogher, Ballynaboorkagh, Cashlaundarragh, Corrafaireen, Shantallow, Carrowreagh East, Caherlissakill and Laragh Beg.
However, two important energy components are not included in the planning application: the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the substation supplying electricity to the solar farm. BESS are used to store energy generated from solar panels and allow it to be distributed when solar production is low.
According to the application, a separate submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected for those elements.
In April 2026, an enforcement notice was issued in respect of unauthorised works at Oakwood South, the proposed location at that time for the BESS and 220kV substation. The power line that would connect to the substation runs through the north-western point of Oakwood South.
The enforcement notice was issued to Kings Valley Farm Limited. No enforcement notice was issued to PCRE which denied any connection with the works and said Oakwood South would be removed from its plans.
However, the virtual consultation maps were not updated at that time to reflect the omission of Oakwood South or the relocation of the proposed substation and BESS. Oakwood South is not included in the current application.
The virtual consultation room has since been removed from the Belleville Solar Farm website.
While a relocated substation is shown in application maps bordering Oakwood South and the neighbouring Kilgarve South site, PCRE has confirmed that permission is not being sought for it as part of the current application.
Its inclusion is “for the purposes of assessing cumulative effects,” a PCRE spokesperson told the Irish Independent.
The application does not include supporting documents for the future BESS and substation, including details of how a substation at an alternative location would connect to power lines.
PCRE said: “Any future planning applications for the BESS and substation will be subject to the applicable statutory planning process, including opportunities for public engagement, and PCRE will continue to engage with local residents and other interested stakeholders as those proposals progress.”
So far, two submissions were made by Galway politicians.
Independent Ireland councillor Noel Thomas told the Irish Independent that PCRE had submitted a “piecemeal” application and that he was seeking a review of hte application validity and completeness.
Cllr Thomas said information was needed on how the relocated substation and 220kV transmission line would link to the current application.
“The application does not appear to identify: the function and status of the proposed substation; the proposed point of connection to the transmission network; the likely route of any connecting cable; whether associated works would fall outside the application boundary; whether the substation is intended solely for Bellville or may serve other projects; or whether the solar farm and BESS can operate as proposed without the connection infrastructure,” his letter says.
“The Council should determine whether an application which depicts a 220kV substation, but does not explain its function, point of connection or cable route, contains the plans and particulars necessary to describe that element of the proposed development.”
Cllr Thomas also pointed to the development’s proximity to the Lough Corrib SAC and Killaclogher Bog NHA, both approximately 50m from the development site. The application is marked ‘No’ when asked whether the development is on a European Site or a Natural Heritage Area.
There is no statutory minimum distance required between a proposed development and a European site or Natural Heritage Area, but proximity is taken into consideration during assessment.
A report in the application found there would be no direct or indirect residual effects on either protected area.
Cllr Thomas requested 22 points of clarification from Galway County Council before determining the application’s validity.
Former Fianna Fáil Galway East TD and current senator Anne Rabbitte submitted a letter stating that the different configuration shown in the application compared with the public consultation “raises a fundamental question as to whether the public and the planning authority are being presented with a consistent and sufficiently clear description of the development for which permission is actually sought.”
Senator Rabbitte also noted that the online nature of the consultation may have excluded people with disabilities, older residents and others with limited digital access.
“I am conscious that accessibility is an important part of meaningful public participation. It is particularly concerning where people who have overcome barriers to accessing an online consultation may nevertheless be presented with information that does not accurately reflect the application lodged with the Council,” her submission reads.
The project first prompted concern among residents when PCRE held a public consultation in June 2025 at the Fr Sammon Centre in Monivea.
In June 2026, PCRE announced a month-long online consultation through a virtual consultation room. Residents were also given access to a dedicated project email address, while representatives were available for face-to-face engagement on request on July 6 and July 7.
PCRE said: “The consultation materials reflected the wider development proposals being considered at the time of engagement. As the project progressed through detailed technical and environmental assessment, and through continued community and statutory engagement, elements of the proposals were revised and will be progressed separately where appropriate.”
Galway County Council is expected to make a decision by October 1, and submissions can be made until September 10.
This article was amended on August 20 to clarify the location of the relocated substation.