Amarenco applies for extension to solar farm at Inniscarra

Amarenco has applied for planning permission for a solar farm in Inniscarra, while a public meeting has been called into the proliferation of wind and solar farms in the Cork area.

Amarenco, headquartered in Cork, is a private company operating primarily in the energy infrastructure and renewable energy sector.

The windfarm plans, submitted to Cork County Council by Amarenco Solar Inniscarra Limited, seek a 10-year permission for a solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) facility, over 7.5 hectares at Curraleigh, Inniscarra.

The proposed development would see photovoltaic panels on ground-mounted frames, a single storey solar PV transformer station, twelve single storey BESS containers arranged within over 0.098 ha, and also one single storey BESS transformer.

Also included under the plans are one single storey power conversion system skid (PCS Skid), one single storey spare parts storage container, internal access tracks, fencing, CCTV, landscaping and all associated site and development works.

The proposed development represents an extension to an adjacent and operational 10.5 hectare solar farm.

Cork County Council says a decision is due by October 8.

The planning application was submitted as a meeting on renewable energy facilities has been planned for Wednesday September 2 at Fermoy Community Youth Centre at 8pm.

The public meeting is being held in relation to the increase in solar and wind energy development in the region.

Hosted by Cork county councillors Peter O’Donoghue and William O’Leary, the primary objective of the meeting is to help to make people aware of what is being proposed, along with a discussion on the potential impact on communities and the countryside.

Mr O’Leary said: “People can come along, make themselves aware of what is going on and can make up their own minds on how they feel after that. Awareness is the name of the game here.”