The Egis energy team in Ireland successfully managed and submitted the planning application for an important 200kW solar array development to be situated on the site of a former landfill. The development puts into effective re-use 67 hectares of land which has been ‘sealed’ and closed to waste in 2010 which means it cannot be redeveloped for a further 20 years.
The site in Arthurstown Co Kildare, was the location for a landfill which operated for just over 10 years until 2010, before which it was a discussed quarry. The site is now in a thirty-year aftercare programme as is typically imposed on former landfill sites. Aftercare programmes include a schedule of monitoring and maintenance to ensure the landfill does not pose any environmental or health risks and to manage its long-term impact.
Local authorities had earmarked Arthurstown as a potential site for a solar plan back in 2020 and an ensuing feasibility study explored potential grid connection, as well as network and environmental considerations.
Egis was commissioned to progress to drawings and design, as part of preparation of the Planning Application for the site, to secure permission to proceed to tender and construction.
A larger array is under consideration by the council in cooperation with Codema which would likely feed into the national grid. This project is an important first step and reference for the following development.