Solar farm plans span over 570 hectares of South Meath

The Soleire Renewables Holdings Limited planning application to develop the solar farm on a 215 hectares site is just one of seven solar farms in the plannng, under construction or operational in the Ratoath, Ashbourne, Clonee area.

It amounts to 574.77 hectares in the locality which has been or is expected to be developed into a solar farm.

As well as the Soleire project, others in the pipeline or operation in the immediate vicinity are....

82.5 hectares at Mullinam, Paddock and Loughlinstown Ratoath

85.3 hectares at Fidorfe, Grange and part of Ratoath Manor

54.57 hectares at Harlockstown, Ashbourne

67.60 hectares at Muckerstown

52.50 hectares at Doghtog, Crakenstown & Bodeen, Ratoath

17.30 hectares at Bullstown and Donaghmore

NOW READ: Planning guidelines on solar farms need to be improved - O’Rourke

NOW READ: ‘We were happy to engage with nearly every resident’... Solar Farm developer taking a different approach to new energy

NOW READ: Swimming in Solar... Residents in South Meath increasingly concerned over plans for over 570 hectares of solar farms in their locality

Meath is leading the way when it comes to solar generated electricity and is by far the biggest producer of solar energy in the country. The projects listed above do not include others in planning or developed in Duleek, Rathkenny, Kilcock and Kells.

There are around 380 solar farm projects in development across the country. Leinster is set to see the largest number of these projects with at least 201 planned in the next 10 years. Approximately 27 per cent of the planned development for Leinster is in Meath although the county makes up about only 12per cent of the total landmass of Leinster.

Of the 13 solar farms that have been so far connected to the national grid, seven of them are located in Meath. This includes Ballynacarney Solar Farm near Kilbride, which in 2022 was the first solar farm to be energised in the country.