BayWa’s renewables arm has secured planning permission for a 60MW solar farm project in Ireland.
Tipperary County Council and An Bord Pleanala have granted planning permission for Baywa r.e.’s Springmount solar project.
The developer will now apply for a grid connection, and expects to receive an offer in 2025, allowing construction to start in 2026, with commissioning projected for 2027.
The project is on 69 hectares of land, 7 km west of Clonmel.
The decision marks BayWa r.e.’s first successful application in Ireland from a pipeline of wind, solar and energy storage projects in development.
James Redmond, Head of Development for BayWa r.e. Ireland, said: “We welcome the decision made by Tipperary County Council and An Bord Pleanala to grant consent for Springmount Solar Farm.
“Delivery of this project will not only boost Ireland’s energy security and provide cheaper and cleaner electricity for consumers; it will also be crucial to achieving Ireland’s net zero ambition.
“As a responsible developer, it’s a priority for BayWa r.e. to translate the benefits of renewable energy projects into tangible improvements for the communities that we become part of.”
The developer will work with the local community to deliver a “substantial” Community Benefit Fund, which will be made available annually to individuals and groups surrounding the solar farm.
The fund will be established when the solar farm enters commercial operation and will support local community groups and initiatives such as energy upgrade (retrofit) of homes, restoration work for local buildings and sports ground refurbishments.
Declan Cullinane, Country Manager at BayWa r.e. Ireland, said: “I welcome the opportunity to progress Springmount Solar Farm into the next exciting phase of its development.
“The project has the potential to make a significant and long-lasting impact on the local economy in Co. Tipperary; through a contribution to annual local authority rates, and opportunities for local business in the supply chain.”
Springmount Solar Farm supports the Government’s 2030 targets of installing 8GW of solar power, which will be necessary to achieve net zero by 2050, as well as the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022, which outlines objectives to promote and facilitate renewable energy development.