Planning Permission Secured for 105MW Ballydonagh Solar Farm as L&G NTR Clean Power Fund Expands Irish Renewable Portfolio
Dublin, October 2025 – In a significant step toward Ireland’s clean energy ambitions, the 105MW Ballydonagh solar project in County Galway has changed hands with planning permission and grid connection already in place.
The L&G NTR Clean Power (Europe) Fund, a joint venture between renewable specialist NTR and Legal & General Asset Management, has acquired Ballydonagh Solar Limited from developer RES. This marks the fund’s tenth Irish transaction and raises its total renewable capacity in Ireland to over 430MW, with a broader European portfolio exceeding 1,100MW across wind, solar, and battery storage assets. The project’s existing planning permission, granted by Galway County Council, is a key factor in its speedy progress toward construction, expected to begin in 2027 after further design optimisation.
Spanning nearly 82 hectares in Cloonineen, Ballydonagh, the solar farm is approved for a 35-year operational lifespan and will generate enough clean electricity to power thousands of Irish homes annually once operational. The site’s approval followed a full assessment of environmental impact, with no material contravention of local development plans reported. Such large-scale renewable developments are seen as vital for Ireland’s climate targets, reducing carbon emissions while supporting local economies and adding resilience to the national grid.
Strategic acquisitions like Ballydonagh highlight the growing importance of projects with secured planning permission in attracting major institutional investment for Ireland’s energy transition. The L&G NTR Clean Power Fund’s focus on “ready-to-build” assets—those with grid connections and local authority approvals—minimises planning risk and accelerates the path to construction. This approach contrasts with more speculative developments, where outcomes can hinge on An Bord Pleanála decisions or face delays due to unresolved environmental impact or flood-risk concerns.
The transaction underscores the competitive edge held by projects that have navigated Ireland’s planning system successfully. For developers and communities alike, the lesson is clear: securing planning permission early not only de-risks investments but also positions Ireland as a leader in Europe’s renewable energy landscape.
Originally reported in on Sat, 11 Oct 2025 04:56:46 +0000. Full story
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