WHO ARE GAELECTRIC? Founded in 2004 with a vision to empower the next generation of energy users with power from nature, we provide energy from renewable sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate progress towards sustainable energy generation and use. We have become a leading independent developer and operator of renewable energy projects in wind, bioenergy and solar on the island of Ireland and in Great Britain. We are also developing energy storage projects in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and on the European mainland that will support the full integration of renewable sources of energy into power systems. Gaelectric has offices in Belfast, Dublin and Manchester. RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS The main driver for the development of renewable sources of energy is to reduce the production of greenhouse gases which are considered to be the main factor in global warming. The European Union Directive 2009/28/EC, which came in to effect in April 2009, sets mandatory national targets for the overall share of energy from renewable resources and sets a common framework across the EU for the promotion of renewable energy. Member states within the EU have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 and reduce the EU s energy consumption by 20% by 2020. Ireland must achieve 16% renewable energy penetration by 2020. This target will be made up of contributions from renewable energy in electricity (RES-E), renewable energy in transport (RES- T) and renewable energy for heat and cooling (RES-H). According to statistics from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Ireland will not meet its legally binding targets by 2020. Increased deployment of renewable electricity technologies is essential to help reduce the total renewable energy sources ( RES ) potential deficit: WHY SOLAR ENERGY? IT IS INFINITELY RENEWABLE - The energy from the sun is far more abundant than any other energy source and is the only resource needed for solar energy production. CONTRIBUTES TO ENERGY TARGETS and helps to address climate change as explained above. THE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT PERMANENT - solar farms have a typical life span of 30 years before decommissioning and the land is returned to its original use at the end of this period. NO MOVING PARTS - Solar farms are static meaning that wildlife is not at risk from the operation of the solar farm. NO SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORT MOVEMENTS Solar farms only require occasional staff visits for maintenance. MINIMAL NOISE EMISSIONS - Solar developments only emit a very low amount of noise from electrical housings and can only be heard over a very short distance. There are no noise emissions at all at night time as the solar farm only operates in daylight. NO POLLUTION DURING OPERATION - Solar farms do not result in any smoke, carbon dioxide or other harmful emissions. QUICK TO INSTALL AND MINIMAL MAINTENANCE NEEDED - Solar farms typically take between 2 and 3 months to install and once built they do not require significant maintenance. LOW LEVEL DEVELOPMENT - The panels would have a maximum height of approximately 2.8 metres when fully erected and with appropriate landscaping and tree planting will be generally screened from view. 1. Ireland s Energy Targets Progress, Ambitions and Impacts (Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland) 2015 2. Energy in Ireland Key Statistics (Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland) 2015
THE SITE ACEmap Single 373750 373700 Located in countryside approximately 1.9 kilometers Site extends to approximately 34 acres Existing agricultural land used for livestock Boundaries generally marked by existing hedgerows, embankments and treelines The site is relatively flat with at an altitude ranging from approximately 50m to 60m in elevation A new access point is intended to be provided from the L1811 local road as part of the project 373825 373800 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 267193 Printed: 07/10/2015 Customer Ref: Centre Point (Easting, Northing): 266633, 373406 122 LOUGHMALLON ROAD, TREMOGE, POMEROY, DUNGANNON, BT70 2SX, 185840170 east of Roscommon Town Scale: 1:2,500 Order no. ORD17912 Plan No. 14001NE Except as otherwise permitted under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 this map may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, with the permission of Land & Property Services. CREEVYQUIN 373650 373600 373550 373500 373450 373400 373350 373300 373250 373200 373150 373100 373050 The proposed solar farm will be contained within five sub-rectangular fields of varying sizes, with the access *All plans are provisional at this time 267150 Site wider context plan 267100 267050 Every care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the compilation of this map at the time of publication. Land & Property Services cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions and when such are brought to our attention, the amendment of any future publication as appropriate shall be entirely at our discretion. Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland and ACEmap are registered Trademarks of Department of Finance and Personnel. 373000 267000 266950 266900 266850 266800 266750 266700 266650 266600 266550 266500 266450 266400 266350 266300 266250 266200 Licence / Permit No. 266150 266100 266073 track crossing two adjacent fields 372985 Site location plan Crown Copyright 2015 *All plans are provisional at this time
CREEVYQUIN LAYOUT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS In developing a preliminary design for the solar farm a number of factors have been taken into account, both in terms of optimising the operation of the development and ensuring that all environmental matters have been satisfactorily addressed INFRASTRUCTURE LAYOUT Site will be well screened from view by existing trees, hedgerows, berms and additional planting The substation and Inverter / transformer stations have been positioned away from residential dwellings The solar panels have been carefully sited to minimise visual impact from surrounding public roads and houses Two overhead ESB line have been avoided A new access point will be created to facilitate construction and operational access Topographic Survey *All plans are provisional at this time ECOLOGY Infrastructure will predominantly be located on Improved Grassland this habitat type is of a generally low ecological value and offers limited potential to support wildlife Existing boundary vegetation will be retained as far as possible, with some amount of removal / trimming to facilitate access and reduce shading Additional planting will also provide an opportunity to improve biodiversity on the site through the use of carefully selected plant species. With the correct management after the construction phase, the potential of the site to support wildlife will increase an Ecological Landscape Management Plan has been developed to identify management measures to provide both visual screening and to enhance the landscape quality and biodiversity of the site. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT The delivery vehicles will travel along the M6/N6 which is located to the south of the proposed Application Site. Vehicles will exit the M6/N6, just north of Athlone, and travel along the N61 in a south to north direction for approximately 28km. After which, vehicles will exit the N61 at the roundabout in Roscommon and take the 3rd exit onto the N63. They will follow the N63 for approximately 1.4km and take a right turn onto the L1811 and follow this local road until the reach the new site entrance. Habitat map
SOLAR FARM SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS The solar farm will produce approximately 4,595 MWH OF ELECTRICITY PER YEAR, which is enough to power the equivalent over 900 homes. Every unit of electricity that is generated from a renewable energy source results in A DIRECT SAVING OF GREENHOUSE GASES that would have been produced had that unit of electricity been generated by non-renewable plant. The solar farm will reduce the production of Carbon dioxide by approximately 2,100 kilograms per year. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JOBS will be created during the construction and decommissioning periods, as well as jobs to maintain the solar farm over its operation life. All Gaelectric wind and solar projects are designed to ENHANCE LOCAL WILDLIFE. We usually draw up, in conjunction with the landowner, a biodiversity management plan. We want to make a real impact locally, so will design the scheme to maximise the benefits for example this may be additional planting, bird and bat boxes or wildflower seed mixes for sites that are not grazed. RENTAL PAYMENTS TO LANDOWNERS. Solar rental income is considered a favourable revenue stream by banks and lenders working within the agricultural sector, which can allow for further financing to purchase more property, new equipment and invest in other diversification projects. Renewable energy developments attract SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RATES PAYMENTS TO THE LOCAL COUNCIL whilst costing the Council nothing to service / maintain. Gaelectric s local procurement policy means services and materials related to the construction of the solar farm will be sourced from close to the site where feasible. A LOCAL SERVICES REGISTER will be set up on the Gaelectric website prior to consent, which will allow local business to register their interest to be on procurement lists. SOLAR PANELS AND EQUIPMENT TYPICALLY OCCUPY BETWEEN 30% AND 50% OF THE TOTAL LEASED area, meaning that land can continue to be used for other activities. The design of the solar farm can allow the grazing of small livestock like sheep and poultry and, where large field margins are available, cropping can also be incorporated. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Public Consultation Event (today) Consideration of responses and potential amendments to proposal Planning application submitted to Roscommon County Council Planning application is processed by the Council, including consultation with statutory agencies Roscommon County Council will then take all responses received into consideration and determine the planning application It is anticipated that this whole process will take approximately 3 6 months WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK Please fill in the feedback forms provided if you have any comments regarding the proposed solar farm Alternatively you can email comments to: nbyrne@gaelectric.ie If you have any queries regarding the information contained on these boards please ask a member of the project team who will be happy to assist