Planning permission for solar energy farm project in Laois submitted by Danish company

Danish renewable energy company Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited has lodged planning permission to develop a new solar energy project in Laois.

Planning permission was submitted on March 11 2025 by Laois County Council.

The development will consist of a 10-year permission and 40-year operational life for a solar farm on 5 land parcels located at Townlands of Morett, Killone, Cappakeel, Rossmore and Raheennahown North in Laois.

• West Parcel (A) (Morett townland),
• Central West Parcel (B) (Morett & Cappakeel. townlands)
• Centre Parcel (C) (Morett & Cappakeel. townlands)
• Centre East Parcel (D) (Cappakeel townland) 
• East Parcel (E) (Rossmore townland)

The total site area for the proposed development is c. 249 hectares and consists of the following:

• 1,796,838sq. metres of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames;
• 44 no. hardstandings for electrical skids and storage;
• underground power and communication cables and ducts;
• c. 22,753m. of boundary security fencing; c. 12,915m. of new and
• existing internal access tracks including 2 no. open span bridge crossings; associated drainage infrastructure;
• 5 no. site entrances which include the upgrading of 2 no. access points onto the L3930,
• 1 no. new access point onto the L7815 local road and
• 2 no. new access points onto the L3930 local public road;
• 5 no. temporary construction compounds; landscaping and biodiversity enhancement measures and all associated site services and works.
• Installations of internal network cable comprise trenching for an underground medium voltage electrical cable and associated joint bays and infrastructure, for a distance of approximately 7,189 metres in length along the solar farm lands including 4 no. Horizonal Directional Drilling points to traverse the Dunrally stream and the local roads L3930, L3901 and L3817.

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A separate planning application will be made to An Bord Pleanála as part of a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID). This will include the provision of a 110kV substation with electrical control building and ancillary electrical infrastructure, associated compound with palisade fence which is to be located in the West Parcel (A) in the townland of Morett.

The substation will connect to the national grid via. A LILO grid connection onsite. This planning application will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála in due course. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies this planning application.

The decision will be made by Laois County Council on May, 5 2025.