Tag Archives: solar energy

Solar power generation tends to invite jokes about the Irish weather but, says Bridget Ginnity, it can make a significant contribution domestically and industrially to Ireland’s renewable energy goals ONE of the incredible success stories in renewable energy is how the price of solar PV (photovoltaic) panels has plummeted. Solar power generation is now cheaper than fossil fuel generation, with India and China leading the way. In Clare, we have more wind than sun, and the energy generated by a wind farm is about ten times that of a solar PV farm over the same area. Ireland has among the lowest solar generation capacity in Europe, with at present less than 0.4% of electricity generated by solar. However, solar energy generation is an important balance to wind for those calm, sunny periods. Also, it’s much more feasible to generate energy from solar panels on a small scale and at the domestic level. Shouting from the rooftops Looking around the rooftops …

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 …

Terra Solar, which is leading the development of solar energy generation in Clare, has submitted additional information to Clare County Council in relation to its application to build the county’s first solar farm at Cratloe. Following a request for additional information from the council’s planning department, Terra Solar engaged independent experts and undertook additional surveys of the Ballymorris site in order to ensure that council planners and residents could be assured on all aspects of the proposed development. “We have carefully chosen the site at Ballymorris and have designed our solar farm so as to have minimal impact on the environment and on the local community. We are pleased to provide this additional information to Clare County Council and it is important that the general public also take the opportunity to understand our proposals”, said Donal Fewer, Project Director, Terra Solar. “We will continue to work with the council and local residents as we seek to develop solar energy generation …