Plans are lodged for Kells Solar PV Project

The application, which was lodged on Friday, centres on lands adjacent to Whappstown Road, to the east of the villages of Kells and Connor.

The scheme has attracted a mixed response from local people with some vehmently opposed and others in favour of the project.

Elgin Energy Managing Director Ronan Kilduff said: “Solar PV is a proven technology which converts daylight into direct current in a green, zero carbon efficient way.

“The photovoltaic panels will continue to generate electricity every day of year for the project lifespan of 25 years.

“The site benefits from existing topography and landscaping that will assist in naturally screening the

development and also benefits from good access and proximity to national grid infrastructure.”

It was pointed out that the final site layout has been refined through an extensive consultation process with the local community and stakeholders and that some 569 jobs, both directly and indirectly, will be introduced across the installation and operational phases of the project.

It was also pointed out that solar farms are a temporary structure built within a four month window and are completely reversible at the end of their project lifetime.