A fresh planning application has been submitted for a major 800ac solar farm near Midleton, Co Cork.

Perigus Energy Ireland Midco Limited – formerly Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited – is seeking permission for the proposed development in the townlands of Knocknagappagh, Barnaviddane, Ballyneague, Ballydaniel, Youghalpark, Ballydaheen and Cornaveigh.

The company previously lodged a planning application for the project, but was subsequently deemed incomplete by Cork County Council in February.

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The developer has now resubmitted the plans and is seeking 10-year planning permission for the solar ,farm which would have an operational life of 40 years.

Landowners

According to the application information, 10 landowners are involved in the proposed solar farm and have given consent to the developer to seek planning permission for the project.

They include the Browne family, who are well-known dairy farmers in the area.

The proposed solar farm would cover approximately 800ac, with around 520ac occupied by solar panels.

The panels would be fixed to ground-mounted frames or installed using precast concrete solar-panel footings, gabion baskets or ballasted solutions.

The plans also provide for 54 inverter/transformer stations and access infrastructure would include approximately 5,135m of new site access tracks.

A further 7,115m of existing tracks and roads would be upgraded to provide access to infrastructure across the site.

Battery storage

A battery energy storage system compound of approximately 7,800 square metres also forms part of the proposed development.

It would include 56 battery container units and seven inverter twin-skid units, with each comprising two inverters and one transformer housed in modular enclosures.

The compound would also contain a communications building housing switch gear and controls, a house transformer, a back-up generator and fuel supply within a bunded reinforced-concrete plinth area, a control building, internal access tracks, security fencing, CCTV, lighting, drainage and associated infrastructure.

The landscaping proposals include the removal of approximately 395m of hedgerow and the planting of 1,400m of new hedgerow.

The application also provides for up to 31,000m of linear and mosaic hedgerow as required under the project's landscape mitigation plan.

Separate substation application

A separate planning application is to be made for the proposed on-site 220kV AIS substation and loop-in grid connection.

According to the planning documentation, that application will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála under Section 182A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

The applicant has also explained the change in its company name since the earlier planning process.

According to the application, the company changed its name from Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited to Perigus Energy Ireland Midco Limited between the pre-application consultation process, the lodging of the earlier application and the current resubmission.

The applicant states that this was a change in corporate name only and did not involve a change in the legal entity or its interest in the proposed development.

The company states that the entity which took part in the pre-application consultation and lodged planning application ref. 25/6876 is the same legal entity making the resubmitted application.

The final date for third-party observations or submissions on the application is 16 September 2026, while the decision date is listed as 7 October 2026.