Locals in Co Longford have hit out at the use of prime agricultural land for a proposed 320-acre solar farm.
The Foigha Solar Farm Concern Group appeared before a Joint Oireachtas Committee last week, telling TDs and senators that an urgency to deliver on renewable energy cannot justify a current lack of policy or regulation.
Under the programme for Government, Ireland has a target of having eight GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030 to assist with meeting the requirement of 80 per cent of electricity demand supplied by renewables.
While solar energy is a growing source of electricity, further solar capacity is needed for Ireland to meet domestic and international targets.
Damien Mulvihill, Chair of the Foigha Solar Farm Concern Group, outlined opposition to the plan. Mr Mulvihill highlighted that there are currently no statutory planning guidelines that deal with solar energy development.
Mr Mulvihill says that the perspectives of local communities need to be taken into account, and that public participation has not been prioritised in the decision-making process.
Mr Mulvihill says “consultation with the locals has been virtually zero.”
“From talking to other groups across the country and from TDs we spoke to in the Oireachtas, this situation is being replicated across the country,” Mr Mulvihill said.
Hundreds of residents in South Longford have put their names on the submission regarding the controversial 130 hectare site.
The company behind the development is BayWa r.e. Americas, which describes itself as a “fully integrated, utility-scale solar, wind, and battery energy storage developer and service provider.”
In October, the company’s proposed solar farm project in South Longford received planning permission from Longford County Council despite local opposition. The application was submitted by Foigha Solar Farm Limited, a subsidiary of BayWa r.e.
The company says that the project will generate benefits in the area, including job creation and community funds.
‘IRELAND LOSING SOME OF BEST FOOD-PRODUCING LAND’
But according to opponents, large-scale energy projects are being placed “wherever private developers decide they are most profitable — not where they make the most sense.”
“Climate action cannot come at the cost of national resilience, Our Rural Identity, our homes or our actual environment. We are here because there are no policies or regulations around Solar farms,” a spokesperson for the Foigha Solar Farm Concern Group told the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
“Ireland is losing some of the best food-producing land in Europe — permanently — at the very moment global food insecurity is rising. Why? Once our land is gone, it is gone for generations. Is that a risk you are willing to take?” the group said in its submission.
The solar farm and energy storage compound is to be located across Cornacarta, Doonacurry, Fough, Kilcommock Glebe, Ledwithstown and Tirlickeen (Townlands), Keenagh and Ballymahon in County Longford.
The solar farm will have an operational lifespan of 40 years.
The group points out that agriculture and food contributes €15 billion worth of exports to the Irish economy. Tourism, it told the Oireachtas, is no less important and rural counties depend on visitors who come for Ireland’s landscapes, “not to look at industrial energy plants.”
“If we lose that draw, we lose far more revenue and jobs than any temporary construction can replace.”
‘RURAL COMMUNITIES LOSING THEIR IDENTITIES’
“We cannot afford to dismantle two of our strongest rural industries — agriculture and tourism. Because let’s be honest about the economics: And The profits from these installations will not stay here,” the spokesperson said.
“This strategy will not secure energy prices. Our Communities are being told to sacrifice our land, our livelihoods and economic future. Local communities like us are blind- sided by these applications which are dividing communities. The result is that prime agricultural land is being taken out of food production.”
“Tourism landscapes are treated as expendable. Profits are leaving the country while rural communities are left to deal with the consequences yet dealing with rising food prices and the most expensive electricity prices in Europe Rural communities are losing their identities, amenities and ability to survive economically.”
“That is not a climate strategy. That is outsourcing Ireland’s future — and calling it progress.
“You are telling us this is necessary. But we are telling you there are better solutions sitting right in front of you.”
‘NO PROPER PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR SOLAR FARMS’
Instead, a better approach, the organisation says, would be placing solar panels on brownfield sites, industrial estates, public buildings and commercial roof tops, car parks, or on existing infrastructure corridors.
“The Government admits there are no proper planning guidelines for solar farms. In our area over 1,000 acres of solar proposals are already on the table. That’s a massive impact on rural South Longford — with no rules in place.
“International developers are taking advantage of this gap. Applications are flooding in faster than communities can respond — and once these decisions are made, we will live with the consequences for decades. Act in haste, repent at leisure.”
Local campaigners are asking for elected representatives to “lead with a national strategy” and that the Government should decide upon suitable locations which are consistent with housing needs, food production, tourism, and environmental protection, and to save rural life.
They are also asking for communities to be consulted early, and “not after decisions are made,” saying people in the area deserve a “genuine say in projects that reshape their future for decades.”
They want to see the enforcement of proper siting rules, arguing that no more industrial energy infrastructure should be pushed up against homes, heritage areas, or protected habitats. High-value agricultural land should also be protected, with food production treated as national strategic infrastructure. The cumulative impact, the group says, should be assessed, rather than on a basis of one project at a time.
“Energy security is not guaranteed when infrastructure is controlled by foreign commercial interests. Ireland must retain influence over its own power supply, pricing, and resilience.
Dr Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business Supports, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), meanwhile told the Committee that the amount of land covered by solar today and even by 2050, “will remain a very small percentage of overall land use.”
‘DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH SOME FARMERS’
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) told the Committee that it is “fully supportive” of roof-top solar production, and that it has a commercial interest in assisting farmers in installation through the joint venture of its Member Services division with Bord Gáis.
Claiming that roof-top solar is “universally supported by farmers and local communities,” it added, however, that there are “concerns” and a level of opposition in certain areas around the development of utility scale solar farms.
The IFA said these developments are increasing in size up to hundreds of acres of land in some cases.
“The main concern among some farmers is the loss of productive agricultural land to solar farms. Many developments of large-scale solar farms have taken place on some of Ireland’s most productive land,” a spokesperson for the national farmers association said.
“Farmland, especially good quality farmland, is an emotive asset among farmers, and the removal of good agricultural land, taken out of food production does not sit well with some farmers.”
Regarding the economic aspect and the benefit for communities, the IFA said that solar farms generate little economic activity other than income for solar farm developers “which are often backed by international investor funds, with no link to the local community.”
“Minimum local employment is generated from solar farm activity, quite the opposite from our traditional family farm-based model of farming in Ireland today.
“A large-scale solar farm will not support the local dairy co-op, feed and farm supply merchants, beef or sheep processors, livestock marts, machinery dealers, the many different professional service providers, such as vets, accountants, agricultural advisors and agri contractors.
It further said that planning guidelines should consider the future impact on the local community from the change of use of land from food production to energy production.