Planning permission is being sought Elgin Energy for the construction of a 200MW solar farm and 200MW Battery Storage in Kildare.

Elgin Energy submitted a planning application to Kildare County Council on January 31 for a solar PV and battery storage development.

The solar farm will consist of arrays of ground-mounted solar panels with a maximum height of 3.2m above ground, along with 102 inverter stations and associated works.

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development would comprise 160 battery units measuring 12.2m x 2.5m, along with 80 Power Conversion System (PCS) units measuring 12.2m x 2.5m each.

Both developments would have the capacity to export 200MW worth of power to the grid, though this may fluctuate by the time of construction based on technological developments.

A planning statement for the application asks that a condition of approval be that, “The proposed development is for a solar farm and BESS with an output of up to 200 MW from solar PV and 200 MW from a BESS unless the prior written agreement of the planning authority is obtained.”

The site of the proposed solar farm and battery storage development is 235.8 hectares of land southwest of the town of Kilcock.

The land comprises 35 agricultural fields. The developer is seeking approval for an operational lifespan of 40 years.

It is stated that the land would be reinstated to its former agricultural use within a year of operations ending.

A Natura Impact Statement, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, and Archaeology & Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment have been submitted with the application.

Kildare County Council is due to make a decision on whether to give the solar farm the green light by March 27, 2025.