Green light for Mannok solar development

The green light has been given for a major solar energy development on lands to the south of Mannok Cement Works in Ballyconnell.

The development will see the installation of approximately 12,609 ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels across a 9.3-hectare site to directly power the adjacent cement factory.

The planning approval from Cavan County Council comes with 18 conditions attached.

The PV panels, once installed, will be supported on steel frames reaching a maximum height of 2.73 metres. They will be arranged in south-facing rows, spaced 3.5 metres apart, and tilted at an angle of 10 to 25 degrees to maximise sunlight capture.

The solar farm will include underground cabling, a temporary construction compound, a transformer station (11kV), a permeable gravel access track, a widened field entrance, CCTV poles and cameras, an entrance gate, an artificial berm, and various landscaping and biodiversity measures.

Additionally, the project requires the relocation of an existing ESB overhead power line.

The planning permission allows for a 35-year operational lifespan, after which the solar farm will be fully decommissioned and the site restored to agricultural use. Existing woodland on the site will remain untouched. The electricity generated will directly supply the adjacent Mannok Cement facility, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

In its first year alone, the solar farm is projected to save an estimated 1,243 tonnes of CO2 emissions - the equivalent of planting around 89,000 evergreen trees.

Sited in a rural area just outside Ballyconnell’s development plan envelope, the land borders residential properties at Doon Heights to the south and industrial facilities to the east. The site layout has been designed to minimise visual impact, with panels following the natural land profile, and boundary fencing incorporating a 200mm wildlife gap in compliance with Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food standards for deer fencing.

A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be implemented to manage construction impacts, protecting local watercourses and wildlife, including amphibians, reptiles, nesting birds, and badgers.

As part of the planning process, Mannok commissioned a detailed archaeological and cultural heritage assessment led by Dr Charles Mount. Geophysical surveys and site inspections confirmed no direct impact on known archaeological sites, although two prehistoric sites are present in the wider area. The layout was adjusted accordingly to preserve these heritage assets.

Access to the site will be via an existing field entrance from the private Mannok Cement laneway, avoiding the need for additional public road access. Security during construction will be managed by Netwatch Commander Units, while around 20 inward-facing thermal and CCTV cameras on 3.5-metre poles will monitor the site during operation.

The planning inspector concluded that the proposed development aligns with the objectives of the Cavan County Development Plan 2022–2028 and recommended a conditional grant of planning permission. The associated development contribution for renewable energy projects is calculated at €2,000 per 0.1 MW.

Mannok Cement’s solar farm forms part of its Energy Valley Transformation Programme, aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The project highlights the growing role of corporate renewable energy initiatives in Ireland, combining local economic benefits with significant environmental gains.