Planning permission has been granted for a controversial solar farm in West Cork, despite opposition from a local community group.

It is likely to be some time before solar farms become a common sight in rural Ireland, with Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton saying commercial solar power is still relatively expensive, and it has not won out at auctions or successfully competed for any Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff schemes.

The Irish solar industry is losing out during the heatwave due to the lack of Government support even as records were being broken for energy production in the UK.

Communities are hitting back at a surge in solar farm construction spreading across the country with no specific planning guidelines in place to regulate them.

Solar energy firms are claiming that 7,300 high-value jobs could be created if the Government introduces subsidies in the sector.

Solar energy firms are seeking state subsidies of €25m per year to kickstart power generation on a mass scale using the sun’s rays.