Milltown Solar Farm and 110kV substation

Energy

Location: Co. Meath
Client: Harmony Solar Meath Ltd.
Status: Complete
Overall Project Value: €140m
Start Date: July 2020
End Date: March 2022

Brief Description

The proposed development of the Milltown Solar Farm consisted of a large scale solar PV development covering multiple parcels of land and an associated 110kV substation in Milltown and Moyagher Lower and Cortown near Kells in County Meath.

The development consisted of 2 no. separate application procedures consisting of;

Planning application to Meath County Council and subsequent first party appeal to An Bord Pleanála for the solar PV development covering approximately 121.5 hectares.

Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) application to An Bord Pleanála for the 110kV substation component.

Fehily Timoney and Company Ltd (FT) had initially prepared and carried out a detailed solar energy feasibility study for the subject lands that established the sites suitability for a large scale solar energy development.

The solar PV component of the development was subject to both a first party appeal to An Bord Pleanála but also had a number of third parties appeal against the decision by Meath County Council to grant permission to the development. Ultimately the solar PV component was granted permission by An Bord Pleanála alongside the SID component in March 2022.

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FT Responsibilities

FT carried out the detailed design for the solar PV development and acted as project leads for the overall design and planning application submissions. FT completed all GIS and CAD work in-house.

FT carried out extensive environmental assessments for the overall project as well as preparing the planning application documentation for both the solar farm component and 110kV substation component which were submitted through separate procedures and requirements. Both applications were prepared in accordance with Irish and EU legislation and guidelines.

FT acted on behalf of the applicant in preparing a first party appeal against the decision by the Planning Authority where they had deemed solar panels where not suitable within a flood zone. In addition to the first party appeal, FT also carried out a detailed response to a number of third party appeals which had been lodged by a number of local residents to the project. Both the first party appeal and responses to the third party appeals were comprehensively addressed whereby An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision by Meath County Council to grant permission to the development. An Bord Pleanála also agreed with the first party appeal where it was determined that solar panels were suitable to be located in a flood zone provided appropriate mitigation was provided.

Project management and coordination with the client requirements and subcontractors were utilised by FT throughout the project and both applications and appeals.

Project Statistics

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121.5 hectares

Site size covering four land parcels

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734,000m2

Solar panels

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110kV

New 110kV electrical substation connection to grid network

Available positionsAll Careers

Position Sector Location
Senior Project Engineer – Energy Energy Cork, Dublin or Carlow
Senior Engineer – Energy Energy Cork, Dublin or Carlow