RENEWABLE Energy Systems Ltd (RES) has been granted planning permission for a 16 hectare solar energy farm at Manusmore and Carrownanelly, Clarecastle.

According to the application the solar farm would be operational for 35 years. Permission has been given for the development which will include inverter station modules, solar PV panels ground mounted on support structures as well as electrical cabling and ducting. 

The planner’s report into the proposal stated, “The principle of the proposed development is supported in broad terms by European, National and regional policies. The Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023 includes a number of objectives which support a move towards a low carbon economy, encouraging renewable energy development and rural diversification.

“This is further strengthened by objectives set out in the Clare Renewable Energy Strategy Volume 6 which identifies factors influencing the preferred location for large scale photovoltaic installations and potential constraints to the development of such proposals.”

It states that “The proposal site is located in a rural area and comprises of a total of four fields that are separated by existing field boundary ditches.”

The document also says that two fields will include the infrastructure and two fields will include an internal access road to connect an already permitted solar farm to this extension. It adds that “The permitted solar farm is located due east of the subject site, and comprises of 99.2 hectares.

The permitted solar farm is connected to the subject site by a strip of land which is included in the subject site application.”