LOCAL residents in a North Galway village have been ‘spooked’ by recently revealed proposals to build the biggest ever solar farm in the country covering an area of between 700 and 900 acres.

Dublin based Power Capital Renewable Energy are planning to construct the giant solar energy electricity generating farm in the Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea area, with 15 local landowners already understood to have made an initial commitment to the project.

However, an estimated 200 local residents turned out for a meeting on the project last Friday night in the Fr. Sammon Centre, Monivea, where major concerns were outlined about the scale of the project and the impact on the local area.

Already, an online petition organised by the committee opposing the development, has attracted hundreds of signatures – last Friday night’s meeting was also attended by local TDs, councillors and Cathaoirleach of Galway County, David Collins.

The petition – started by Ryehill resident, Christopher Colston – outlines ‘deep concerns’ about the impact of the proposed solar development on the local community.

“Sustainability should not mean fencing off nature, tearing up wild habitats, or replacing open fields with miles of reflective panels and metal infrastructure.

“True sustainability respects both the planet and the places we call home – this proposal does neither,” the petition document states.

It adds that the installation of large solar panels would undermine the natural beauty of the Monivea area ‘turning vast areas of green land into industrial sites’ which could lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion, and an alteration in local flora and fauna.

Local Ryehill farmer, Tom Kilkelly, who is a member of the committee opposing the proposed solar development, said that the local community had ‘very real fears and worries’ over the project.

He said that there had been little or no consultation with the local community on the proposal with most people in the area not receiving letters about an open day that Power Capital Renewable Energy [PCRE] had held in Monivea Hall on June 26 last.

“This solar development will have a massive impact on the visual aspect of the local landscape and it will also lead to a devaluation of local properties – who wants to be looking out onto to a sea of solar panels.

“If a project of this scale and size goes ahead, people won’t want to build or buy houses here in this area. This is a vast project involving the loss of between 700 and 900 acres of highly-productive arable land.

“We’re all taken aback with the size and scale of this project and the fragmentation of land that will be involved at a time in the world when having our own food security was never more important.

“There are also major environmental concerns as regards drainage implications and the impact on the ecology of an area where there is a big bat and bird population,” said Tom Kilkelly.

He also said that the location of a battery storage unit and a sub-station close to a number of residences in the Cahernaglass townland was a major source of concern in the event of a fire breaking out.

“We’ve seen a recent example in the Claregalway area where there were major problems in trying to contain a fire that occurred in one of those battery storage units. This is a real worry,” said Tom Kilkelly.

PCRE, who are headquartered in Dublin, are understood to be owned by a French based  private equity and infrastructure investment company called Omnes and have reportedly secured loan commitments of up to €240 million from the European Investment Bank, and Ethias, a Belgian insurer for their Irish solar farm projects.

On their website, PCRE has confirmed that it is now carrying out public consultations in advance of the submission of a planning application [to Galway County Council] for the Monivea/Abbeyknockmoy solar farm project.

The ‘Belville Solar Farm’ –  located between the villages of Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy  – will cover the following townlands: Laragh Beg, Carrowreagh East, Caherlissakill, Lissaniska, Oakwood South, Cahernaglass, Carrowmore, Cashlaundarragh, Ryehill Demesne, Parkacurry, Ballynaboorkagh and Knockauncarragh.

According to PCRE, the project will contribute to the decarbonisation of energy supply; provide energy security for Ireland; boost the local economy, including a community benefit fund; use proven and safe technology; and can co-exist with existing agriculture.

Power Capital Renewable Energy was founded in 2011, ‘with a long-term goal of producing clean sustainable energy’.

“We are a specialist, independent Irish company with a growing international presence. We build photovoltaic (PV) solar farms that produce electricity and continue to grow our portfolio through projects which we believe will help meet climate action targets and benefit local communities,” according to the PCRE website.

One of the biggest working solar farms in Ireland is located in Gallanstown, Co. Meath, covering an area of 500-acres near Ashbourne with a 198 megawatt generating capacity.

According to Teagasc solar specialist, Barry Caslin, the renting of solar land can generate an income of between €950 to €1,400 an acre – however, he added that prices of between €900 and €1,200 were more common. A 50-acre farm could generate an annual income of c. €60,000 for the the rental period, normally a minimum of 25-years.

Writing in the July-August edition of the Teagasc Today’s Farm magazine, Barry Caslin urged farmers considering leasing land to a solar energy company, to seek professional tax advice and especially so where succession or transfer of land issues could arise down the road.

It is understood that PCRE intends to hold another consultation/open-day in the Fr. Sammon Centre, Monivea, on Thursday, August 14 next.

Pictured: Local residents fear the scale of solar farm planned for Monivea will change forever the character of the area.