A Step forward for Solar Power in Ireland
Wexford Solar Energy has received planning consent for its proposed Coolroe solar farm [1] in County Wexford, Ireland. The proposed development will reportedly cover 26 acres (the equivalent of 14 football pitches) and will include thousands of solar panels.
Pager Power is pleased to hear the news of it’s consent because it undertook the Glint and Glare Assessment for the project and was involved in the oral hearing. You can learn more about the work on this project in the dedicated case study.
Click here to see the Pager Power Glint and Glare Assessment case study for Coolroe Solar Energy Development, ROI.
Future Hurdles
The project may still be appealed by local residents that may have objections regarding visual impact. The exact timescales for the project will not be determined until the appeals process has been completed.
Solar Power in Ireland
Solar power in Ireland has been slower to develop than in many other European countries [2]. Other forms of renewable energy have been more successful, including wind power, which has increased from 209 MW to over 2,000 MW since 2003 [3].
Ireland is committed to produce 16% of its consumed energy from renewable sources under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive. Exploiting its solar potential could contribute toward this commitment, particularly as Ireland is on much the same latitude as countries such as the UK and Germany which have far more extensive solar energy developments.
Image accreditation: “Solar Farm” by Michael Mees / CC BY 2.0 / Image cropped and resized from original.
References
[1] Solar energy farm planned for Tintern, David Looby, Independent Online. (Last Accessed 03/03/15)
[2] Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018, European Photovoltaic Industry Association, 2014
[3] Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, May 2014
