Developed by Tullamore Solar Farm Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ESB
Ballydonohoe Solar Farm is located in the townlands of Ballydonohoe and Glouria, approximately 1.6km east of Lisselton, County Kerry. The circuit connecting the solar farm to the electricity grid also crosses the townlands of Coolard, Knockenagh South, Carhoonaknock East, Coolkeragh, Drombeg and Tullamore.
Latest News
Further information on the construction of Ballydonohoe Solar Farm will be available here as the project progresses.
Location
The location map provides more details of the site location
Ballydonohoe Solar Farm received full planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in May 2022 (Kerry County Council planning reference number 21/457 / An Bord Pleanála reference ABP-312288-21). An amendment to the planning decision to accommodate a slight change in the cable route was granted full planning permission from Kerry County Council in March 2023 (Reference: 22/1340)
The project successfully secured a capacity contract in the RESS 4 auction in October 2024.
Ballydonohoe Solar Farm will consist of rows of solar panels mounted on a typical galvanised metal framework. The panels face in a southerly direction with the highest point of the top of the panels being 2.9m above ground level.
The solar panels will be set back from nearby residential dwellings to minimise visual impact. The position of the panels and set back distance has been carefully considered to allow the panels and proposed landscaping to blend into the existing surroundings. A landscaping scheme will be implemented to screen the solar farm from neighbouring residences and roads, and to help embed it into the surrounding landscape.
Grid Connection
Ballydonohoe Solar Farm will connect to the electricity grid at the nearby Drombeg 110kV (kilovolts) substation. The connection will be made via a combination of underground cable on public roads and by overhead lines across agricultural land.
Proposed Development Timeline
- Summer 2025: Construction of the project is due to commence
- Summer 2025 to Summer 2026: Solar works
- Autumn 2025 to Summer 2026: Electrical works and Cable installation
- Autumn 2026: Commissioning and project operational
Community Benefits
At a local level, there will be benefits from the construction and operation of the Ballydonohoe Solar Farm. These include:
- A community benefit fund.
- Indirect employment through the sub-supply of services in the local area.
- Rates paid by the solar farm to Kerry County Council will support the provision of local services.
Community Benefit Fund
Once operational, the Ballydonohoe Solar Farm project will have a Community Benefit Fund which will distribute grants to organisations in the local area.
While the solar fund for the Ballydonohoe Solar Farm project will not be operational until the project energises in 2026, we encourage the local community to start thinking about the kind of projects that could be supported by the fund. As we approach the energisation date, we will communicate updates via local media, through the local authorities and via this website.
In the meantime, for more information on how ESB supports its communities, to learn how your community can benefit from ESB CBFs as well as the Irish Government’s Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS), please visit the following websites: