BNRG Laccamore appeals Kerry County Council rejection of North Kerry solar farm

BNRG Laccamore Limited has lodged an appeal with the national planning body, An Coimisiún Pleanála, following a decision by Kerry County Council to refuse planning permission for a major solar farm in North Kerry. Radio Kerry reported that the local authority previously turned down the company's application for the proposed development. [1]

According to Radio Kerry, the rejected planning application sought ten-year permission to construct almost 450,000 square metres of solar panels. The proposed development covers roughly 152 hectares of land across four parcels in North Kerry. The townlands included in the application are Laccamore, Parkmore, Lissireen, Tullacrimeen, Aulaneduff, Ballyconnell, Fahavane, Knockbrack West, Knocknacaska, and Knocknagun. [1]

The appeal comes during broader European energy challenges. As FTMQ News reported earlier, cloudy weather and still conditions have recently dampened solar and wind output across Europe, driving up power prices and forcing reliance on back-up power sources. Optimum conditions can drop solar generation costs to as little as 0.024 euros per unit, and solar savings have helped the European Union avoid 42.9 billion euros in gas imports since the start of the war on Iran. [4]

An Coimisiún Pleanála will now consider the case and issue a decision on the appealed application. [1]