- Lightsource bp, a global leader in the financing, development, and management of solar energy projects, is hosting a public meeting about Ireland’s largest solar farm.
- The company stressed that the solar farm is purposely designed so that most of the open grassland on the site can still be used for grazing small livestock.
Lightsource bp, a global leader in the financing, development, and management of solar energy projects, is hosting a public meeting in Knockanure on October 17 to outline the plans, which are still in an early stage. The site is earmarked for a 599-acre site at Knockanure in north Kerry.
The company explained that the proposed solar and energy storage project would provide enough renewable energy to power around 45,500 homes, saving approximately 77,800 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The company says this is the equivalent of taking 39,000 large family cars off the road. The project will connect to the national grid and have an output power capacity of 193MWac (Megawatts ac) and a storage capacity of 149MW.
The company stressed that the solar farm is purposely designed so that most of the open grassland on the site can still be used for grazing small livestock and would allow the land to retain the potential for agricultural use.
The design provides ‘wild grassy avenues’ between the rows of solar panels to reduce shading and optimise the amount of sunlight each row of panels receives. Around 70 per cent of the solar installation site would be open grassland.
In addition, Lightsource BP says the proposed fields for the farm have been ‘carefully selected’.
“They are well-screened by local topography, which would help limit surrounding views of the solar installation,” a statement outlined.
Aidan Collins, Head of Environmental Planning Ireland & UK, Lightsource bp, said the company wants to ensure that local communities around the proposed location have all the information they need about the project.
“We’re holding this information event to speak to elected representatives, local businesses and residents and to gather feedback,” Mr Collins said.
“It’s also a great opportunity for the community to ask questions about the project or solar and energy storage in general,” he added.