The Irish company, Elgin Energy Services Ltd., applied on 4 November. 2016, to Westmeath County Council for planning permission for a 4 megawatt commercial solar farm on a site of 30.88 acres (12.5 hectares), involving four fields, at Marlinstown, Mullingar.
The planning application was submitted to the County Council on 4 November and sets out that the solar farm will involve the installation of photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames in rows, on a site of about 12.5 hectares, with a single storey ESB terminal station, a single storey switchgear enclosure with storage container, four single storey inverter stations, ducting and underground electric cabling, perimeter fencing, seven mounted CCTV cameras, provision of internal access tracks and all associated site development and landscaping works with access from the existing entrance at Marlinstown, Mullingar.
A spokesperson for the company told Westmeath Topic this week that existing field boundaries will not be disturbed, with mature hedgerows providing generous screening. The company has also contacted neighbours in the immediate vicinity, and offered to answer any queries they might have.
The Irish owned solar energy company, established in 2009, describes itself as a leading solar PV (photovoltaic) development company, which is already providing more than 200MW of “clean, green energy” in England, Scotland and Wales, and are planning for a total of 500 MWs of grid applications in Ireland, with 44MW already submitted to planning, and 44MW grid contracted to date. A further 200MW are planned for Northern Ireland.
The spokesperson told us that PV solar energy systems cause no emissions of any kind, and soil and water systems are unaffected, with minimal ground disturbance.
The fixed PV panels are erected in south-facing rows and the land can continue to be farmed, with smaller livestock like sheep and free-range poultry grazing on it, and it can also produce high-value fruits and vegetables, or non food crops. It can also be used by bee-keepers, and the growing of windflower species on such sites has many attractions in terms of biodiversity.
The company’s single biggest solar energy farm to date is the Rose and Crown project in Norfolk, with 30MW capacity, which began construction in January 2016, and was energised in March 2016. It is located on 150 acres, and has 116,500 solar panels – nearly eight times larger than is planned for Marlinstown.
PLANS FOR THE DOWNS
About four months ago, on 28 July, 2016, well known farming businessman, Thomas Flynn of The Downs, submitted plans to Westmeath County Council seeking permission for a 20,000 panel PV solar energy farm on a 9.3 ha, site at Newdown, The Downs, Mullingar, just a few miles from the Marlinstown location.
The solar farm at The Downs, reckoned to cost in the region of €4.5m, would be capable of generating 5 MWs of electricity, and the site is located adjacent to where Flynn’s are already on course to build an anaerobic digestion facility, another eco-friendly project which could provide 2,500 homes with electricity.
In mid September, the County Council sought further information from the applicants.
Mr. Flynn told Topic on Tuesday that they are at present awaiting an archaeologist’s report to submit to Westmeath County Council, as sought.
Mr. Flynn also commented that at present, no solar project in this country can be opened, because the electricity cannot go into the grid until the Government announces a policy on solar energy.
This isn’t in place at present, and it could be the end of 2017 before the policy appears,” he said, “so even if we had permission tomorrow, we must await this. There is no support for anyone from the government at present, so this must be changed.”
Mr. Flynn said that Ireland as a “green country” is way behind others in promoting such systems, even though much is spoken about it by politicians
