Planning application · Carlow County Council

A proposed Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System at Straboe, Ballyhacket Lower and Ballycook

Straboe, Ballyhacket Lower and Ballycook, Co. Carlow

2660091 · CarlowClosed

61.3 ha · Declared invalid

Planning application 2660091 to Carlow County Council: A proposed Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System, at Straboe, Ballyhacket Lower and Ballycook.

Timeline

  1. Application lodged

Key facts

Reference
2660091
Planning authority
Carlow County Council
Received
31 Mar 2026
Status
Closed
Use
Residential
Site area
61.3 ha

Proposed development

a proposed Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System. The development that will consist of: (i) Construction and operation solar PV panels on ground mounted steel supported structures with associated string inverters; (ii) Construction of a 50 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound consisting of BESS units, integrated cabinets, spare parts containers, independent power producer (IPP) building (c. 64sqm) and security fencing (c. 2.6m in height); (iii) Installation of 13 no. transformer stations at various points across the site; (iv) Internal underground trenching, electrical cabling and ducting between the solar PV arrays and electrical inverters/transformers; (v) Provision of 1 no. new site entrance from the L6003 and provision of 2 no. passing bays along the L6003; (vi) Provision of internal access tracks and watercourse/drain crossings, perimeter fencing, pole mounted CCTV cameras; (vii) 1 no. temporary construction compound; (viii) All associated site development, landscaping, drainage arrangements and ancillary works. The proposed solar farm development spans a total site area measuring c. 126.4ha, of which c. 61.3ha, the subject of this application, is located in Co. Carlow and c. 65.1ha is located in Co. Kildare. A separate planning application is being lodged with Kildare County Council. Permission is sought for a period of 10 years with an operational period of 40 years. The total capacity of solar PV panels on the entire development, including Carlow and Kildare, is estimated to be c. 120MW. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and was submitted as part of this application. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply

Planning status

The application was declared invalid by the council. A corrected application may be lodged again.

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About this page: the facts above come from the statutory public planning register kept by Carlow County Council and are refreshed weekly (last updated 21 Sept 2026). Applicant names and contact details are not shown. Status labels are PlanningLeads' plain-language reading of the register status and the "Use" label is classified by AI from the public description (see how we use AI); neither is legal advice and the council's file is the record. How we handle this data: privacy notice.

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