Concerns for impact on breeding and racing of solar plant besides Punchestown

An application for planning permission to develop a 320-acre solar plant beside Punchestown racecourse and adjacent to a number of stud farms has been lodged with Kildare County Council.

The plans, submitted by Strategic Power Projects, are the largest so far received by a local authority in Ireland, and if permission is granted by the council would result in approximately 238,000 solar panels being installed on the site at Swordlestown, which is equivalent to the size of 100 Croke Park pitches.

Paul Carson, CEO of the company, said: "We are extremely encouraged by the proposed site at Swordlestown. The deployment of solar farms in Ireland has the potential to increase energy security, contribute to our renewable energy targets and support economic growth and jobs."

Explaining why the Swordlestown location was chosen, he said: "The site had been selected for a number of reasons. It benefits from high exposure to the sun, which is crucial for efficient energy production, while it is not high-yielding agricultural land but can be maintained for animal grazing even with the development of the solar farm.

"Also, the site is not located in or close to a protected ecological area, so it is well suited for a development of this nature."

Local residents, however, including a number of leading breeders, have expressed concerns about the scale of the development, the potential impact on the land and wildlife in the area, and the possible implications for racing and bloodstock.

The Punchestown Area Community Group has been formed in response to the proposed development, and they refute the assertions of meaningful community engagement made by Strategic Power.

A spokesperson for the group said: "We support the government's Climate Action Plan and their renewable energy strategy. However, such a large-scale industrial plant is not suitable in the heart of the Punchestown area.

"This area is rich in wildlife, which has freely moved in this important ecological habitat, and the proposed industrial development would forever alter their habitat.

"The Punchestown area represents both the best agricultural land and an area important in wildlife. An industrial-scale solar development is not suitable in this unique and sensitive landscape."

Conor O'Neill, CEO of Punchestown, confirmed that racecourse management know of the proposed solar plant, and said they were conducting their own investigations into any effects it may have on the track.

"We're aware of the proposed development, which is located in close proximity to Punchestown, and have commissioned an independent analysis of any potential impact such a development may have on Punchestown," he said.

"We'll review that report and formulate our position on this development then."

One of the complicating factors is the lack of government policy concerning solar plants, particularly as to where they can be located and the type of land suitable for use.

This need for clear guidelines on renewable energy projects is an issue on which Vincent P Martin, the Green Party Senator for Kildare, and a local resident, shares the group's concerns.

"It is correctly and widely accepted that solar energy will play a vital role in meeting our country's renewable energy targets," he said. "There is an urgent need for our country to become independently energy sufficient and this has been amplified for all to see in recent times.

"However, in order to do this correctly I believe the government should issue policy guidelines in respect of placement of large solar energy plant developments and appropriate categorisation of land usage, etc. This already operates successfully in other jurisdictions."

The submissions stage of the planning process is due to close on March 10.

Read more

Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling embarks on stud career at Kenmare Castle

Coup for Goffs UK as Harry Fowler comes on board

Knockhouse Stud thriving with Workforce, Boscaccio and co(£)

€50,000 duo top Auctav auction

Henri Bozo reveals top-notch mating plans for Ecurie des Monceaux mares