Planning permission granted for North Cork solar farm

Charles Coyle, Development Project Manager, Amarenco Ireland and Declan Cullinane, Managing Director of Amarenco Ireland. Picture: Alison Miles

Planning permission has been granted for a 20 megawatt solar farm to be developed across four sites in North Cork.

Renewable energy firm Amarenco has been granted permission for the development at Castlelyons, near Rathcormac, that will extend over 47 hectares and is expected to generate enough electricity to power 4,500 homes.

Cork County Council had granted planning permission for the development last July, but the decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by a third party. Amarenco said permission has now been granted for the development, with construction due to begin in the second half of 2027. The site is anticipated to be fully operational in 2029.

Amarenco said a Community Benefit Fund will be established once the project is operational to support community and sports projects and initiatives in the locality, with the company allocating an annual budget of approximately €60,000 for the fund for 15 years.

Amarenco also said it has extensive ecological plans to increase the biodiversity of the site and will be working with a local ecologist to design additional biodiversity enhancements with trees and hedgerows to be used to shield the project from homes and nearby traffic.

Declan Cullinane, Managing Director of Amarenco, said the project represents a significant investment in the local area and will deliver long-term benefits for the wider community. 

"Biodiversity and nature restoration is a core focus for us. Alongside generating clean, renewable energy, the development will include extensive native planting and habitat enhancement measures to support pollinators and local wildlife, designed by an independent ecologist. We look forward to working closely with the local community over the coming years on this project.” 

Separately, Cork County Council also granted permission this week to Amarenco for a solar farm near Midleton across an 8.8-hectare area at Carrigogna.