Frequently Asked Questions

If a solar farm is granted planning permission and successful in securing a Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Contract, a CBF will be set up to support the local community, providing €2/MWh of generation to the CBF for the duration of the RESS Contract. An independent third party will assist in the management and allocation of the final CBF. Eligible initiatives and clubs will be entitled to apply for funding via an application process which will be run annually.   

 Further information on Community Benefit is available at:  

gov.ie - Community Projects and Benefit Funds - RESS

As per all development, there will be short-term noise impacts during the construction phase. 

Once operational, the solar panels themselves will not produce noise as they operate. The inverter/transformer stations and main substation has the potential to emit only a very low level of noise and will be fully modelled and assessed as part of the planning application by an independent acoustic consultant.  

If granted planning, the solar farm will comply with all noise conditions that are applicable to both construction and operational phases as set by the consenting authority.

Low level lighting will be proposed as part of the substation compound, which is required by the TSO Operator. This would only illuminate selected areas of the substation compound and be directed downward. No lighting is required within the site beyond the substation compound. Any CCTV cameras proposed will be directed internally within the site and will not monitor lands outside of the site boundary. Sites will be largely unmanned during operation. 

As part of a planning application, an independent landscape and visual consultant is appointed to prepare a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) report. As part of this assessment photomontages are prepared that will show viewpoints of the site both before and after the construction of the proposed solar farm and will include screening and planting proposals where required.    

There is no credible evidence to indicate that solar farms pose any health or safety risks. The project will not lead to any electromagnetic health impacts. Everyday household items and appliances expose us to electromagnetic fields regularly. While solar farms may emit low-level electromagnetic fields (EMF) from transformers and underground cables, these levels are far below any threshold considered potentially harmful to human health.

A key factor to note is that the strength of electromagnetic fields decreases significantly with distance from the source. 

EirGrid have published reports outlining the electromagnetic field levels associated with electrical infrastructure, as well as the impact that separation and burying cables has on EMF levels. One report can be found at the below link:

https://cms.eirgrid.ie/sites/default/files/publications/EirGrid-The-Electricity-Grid-and-Your-Health.pdf

The “Planning & Development Guidance Recommendations for utility scale solar photovoltaic schemes in Ireland”, funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) considered studies of property prices in several countries (United States, United Kingdom and Germany) that have significantly more ground mounted solar PV than Ireland. This research did not identify any studies which concluded that proximity to ground-mounted solar farms has a negative impact on property prices. This report states at section 3.2.2: 

 “Having undertaken a comprehensive desk review, this research has identified no studies from the case study countries which indicate that proximity to USSPV negatively impacts on property prices”. 

Source: 2016_RDD_96._Planning_Development_Guidance_Utility_Solar_PV_Irl_-_FAC.pdf 

 In addition to this SEAI Research, there are a number of An Bord Pleanála (ABP) Inspector’s reports which have not found any evidence of property devaluation as a result of neighbouring solar farm development.  

A detailed traffic management plan will accompany any planning application, which will outline volumes of deliveries expected and the proposed delivery routes.  

Once the solar installation is in place it requires very little maintenance. There will be regular visits to site, typically once a month, in a maintenance van which would cause no traffic disruption.   

A flood impact assessment and a surface water management plan (SWMP), which will outline the drainage plan for the site, will accompany the planning application and will be available for review once the application is lodged.  

110kV substations and infrastructure are not included in planning applications to the local council. Planning consent will be sought separately via the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) planning process through An Bord Pleanala / An Coimisiún Pleanála.

All  solar farm assessments will include the substation development as part of the cumulative assessment.

Lands beneath the solar panels will remain available for use for sheep or other small livestock which can pass under the panels. The panels are roughly 0.8m off the ground at their lowest point, which provides sufficient clearance for animals to pass beneath.  

The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) has reported that for Ireland to meet its targets of 8,000MW of solar installed by 2030, less than 1% of agricultural land in Ireland will be used for solar farms.  

Regnum Renewables intend to apply for planning permission for a 40-year duration. After which point, the panels and associated equipment will be removed and recycled.