Plans lodged for large-scale solar farm in Tipperary
Plans have been lodged for a large-scale solar farm outside Tipperary town.
Sparrow Solar has applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to build the solar farm on lands at Lisheennamalausa, Ballyryan West, Gortdrum and Barnanalleen.
The site sits around five kilometres outside Tipperary town, and 1.5km from the village of Monard.
The planned development will see ground-mounted solar PV panels installed on steel support structures, along with 17 transformers, underground cables, perimeter fencing, 43 CCTV cameras, new and upgraded access tracks, and associated landscaping installed.
The applicant said the solar farm would operate for 40 years from the date of commissioning, and it is estimated that the development could power over 10,000 homes.
The solar farm will be the second one to be developed in the area in recent years, with Power Capital being granted planning permission in 2022 for a solar farm on adjoining lands.
An agent acting on behalf of Sparrow Solar said that if granted permission, steps would be taken to ensure that the new solar farm wouldn’t result in any loss of amenity for residents in the area.
"The proposed development will incorporate a detailed landscape strategy which will seek to retain and enhance the existing landscape framework of the site to conserve visual amenity and landscape character,” the agent said.
The developer plans to use sheep to keep the grass around the solar panels short, the applicant added, and said that even on a cloudy day, the panels will work to generate electricity.
Tipperary County Council is due to make a decision on the application by April 20.