Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 211 11.6.4 Current status of Solar development in the County The use of domestic solar panels for the generation of heat for hot water and for the generation of electricity is widespread throughout the County. Several grant schemes exist to assist with the rollout of more domestic solar generation. Under the Climate Action Plan 2019, the ESB networks have a requirement to transpose the EU 2019/944 Regulations. The EU regulations require that the export of PV from domestic and commercial microgeneration is permissible. County Kilkenny currently has 13 approved solar farm developments, each potentially providing 4 to 5 MW of power, which, in combination, potentially provides between 50 and 75 MW of power, depending on efficiency. Table 11.4 Solar farms granted in Kilkenny Applicant Townland Output MW 1.Elgin Energy Services Ltd. Kiltorcan and Ballyhale 4.2 2.Elgin Energy Services Ltd Grange Lower, Goresbridge 4 3.Wexford Solar Ltd Curraghmartin, Carrigeen 4 4.Highfield Derrynahinch, Knocktopher 5.Highfield Derrynahinch, Kiltorcan 6.Solar Sense Ballyhale and Kiltorcan 7.Power Capital Renewable Energy Grange Lower, Goresbridge 5 8.Power Capital Renewable Energy Loan Castlecomer 5 9.Elgin Energy Services Ltd Keatingstown 10.Pascal and Niall Drennan Parksgrove Ballyragget 50,000m2 of solar panels 11.Art Generation Ballytobin and Ballyhall, Callan 5 12.Elgin Energy Services Ltd Ballyconra, Ballyragget 13.ENGIE Developments (Ireland) Limited Farranmacedmond, Aglish Industrial scale solar generation is also widespread throughout the County. A good example of such rollout is O’Shea farms, located just outside Piltown, who have placed extensive solar arrays on the roofs of their agricultural sheds for electricity generation, yielding 208,000 kWh p/a, extensively cutting electricity demand from the grid.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 212 11.6.5 Solar Energy Development Management Guidance The main impact from the installation of solar energy technologies is visual. The installation of solar panels on a building can impact on the building’s character. There are exemptions contained within the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 to 2008 (S.I. No. 83 of 2007 and S.I. No. 235 of 2008), regarding the placing of solar technology on domestic structures, and on buildings used/associated with industrial, light industrial, business and agricultural purposes, subject to certain criteria. Planning permission is required to install solar technology on a Protected Structure. Sensitive design and location are important so that the overall character is not diminished. The following principles will guide Development Management: • The Planning Authority will promote the use of solar technologies in new and existing dwellings, offices, commercial and industrial buildings, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the development management requirements. • The Planning Authority will support and facilitate the generation of renewable energy from Utility Scale Solar Photo- Voltaic (USSPV) where solar arrays can be so positioned that, when considering Development Management Guidance, they will not have an excessively adverse impact on the landscape, either individually or in combination. • The Planning Authority will support and facilitate the development of passive solar design proposals for the development of houses in rural and urban areas, and will draw on the recommendations of the Kilkenny Rural House Design Guide, and the Guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas. • The Planning Authority will continue to make available advice on Passive Solar Design in preplanning consultations for domestic and commercial buildings. • The Planning Authority will consider impacts of overshadowing on the efficiency of existing solar technologies when assessing planning applications. • To support the installation of solar panels on public buildings such as libraries and schools and other Government and County Council projects within the county should the opportunity arise. Public buildings and schools are not included within the Regulations. The Council will support applications to install solar panels on these buildings within the county should the opportunity arise. All solar farm applications will be assessed on a site-specific basis and in accordance with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development. The best locations for Utility Scale Solar PV (USSPV) are: • Proximate to a 38kv or 110kv lines and substations • Rural Brownfield (e.g. cutaway bog); • Urban Brownfield (e.g. former landfill sites); • Topographically assimilative and screening rich landscapes; • Agricultural Lands

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 213 11.6.5.1 Utility Scale Solar PV (USSPV) It is recommended that the impact of Utility Scale Solar PV (USSPV) on the landscape be considered with due cognisance of the following: • Individual and cumulative ‘zones of visual influence’ identifying where the solar arrays will be visible from. Sequential effects on visibility need to be considered where an observer moves through a landscape and sees two or more schemes. Common routes through a landscape (e.g. major roads; long distance paths or cycle routes) can be identified as ‘journey scenarios’ and the proposals impact on them can be assessed; • In addition to the proposal under consideration, consider photomontages to show all existing and consented solar farms, including those for which planning applications have been submitted, • If necessary to undertake a glint and glare assessment, including cumulative effectives of all existing and consented solar farms. Glint and Glare is linked to the characteristics of some solar energy technologies such as older solar PV panels or concentrated solar power (CSP) where energy is focussed on a central boiler which drives a steam turbine. Glint and glare are defined as: “Glint” gives out or reflects small flashes of light. “Glare” shine with a strong or dazzling light. • At the most detailed level, description and assessment of cumulative impacts may include the following landscape issues: o scale of development in relation to landscape character or designations, o sense of distance, o existing focal points in the landscape, o and sense of remoteness or wildness. • Proximity of areas of archaeological potential. Any application for a USSPV scheme should at least submit an archaeological assessment predicated on a site walk over and desk research of possible archaeological potential. • Proximity to sensitive visual receptors, such as those found in heritage landscapes or areas with scenic landscape qualities, including protected views. A decommissioning statement should be included as a standard component of a planning application for utility scale solar PV. The Council will require a commitment to decommissioning at application stage. A condition to agree decommissioning details will be a consideration during the decisionmaking process. It should be noted that over time, higher efficiency panels (repowering) during the lifetime of a grant of planning permission may need to be installed. This should be considered in all applications and as long as the physical characteristics or the planning impacts of the development are not materially different from the original (i.e. reflectivity, sun path tracking etc), such replacements can be conditioned subject to consideration by the Planning Authority. 11.6.5.2 Small scale domestic, business or light industrial solar collector panels Domestic, business or light industrial buildings can use either thermal and/or Photo-Voltaic solar collector panels. The best locations for arrays of domestic and commercial scaled solar panels are: • South facing sloped roofs

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 214 • Free standing at or above ground level adjacent to domestic or commercial buildings. Solar collector panels are in some instances, with limitations, exempted under the following regulations: • Domestic under Class 2 c) of Part 1, Schedule 2, exempt in accordance with Article 6 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended • Business or light industrial under Class 56 d) and e) of Part 1, Schedule 2, exempt in accordance with Article 6 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended Planning applications dealing with developments which exceeds the exempt limitations, will be considered with due regard to the following; • The location and elevation of the proposals • The profile and colours of the solar panel arrays • The direction the panels face • Potential impact of the arrays of solar panels on the character of the structure and that of neighbouring structures. 11.7 Bioenergy 11.7.1 Background The EU’s 2050 long-term strategy outlines the bio-economy as one of the strategic priorities in the road to a climate neutral economy. A National policy statement on the bio-economy was published in 2018, and the First Progress Report of the Group was published in September 2019. The importance of the bio economy is also recognised in the Government’s Climate Action Plan and other crosssectoral policies including Future Jobs Ireland. The Government recognises that the bio economy is crucial for sustainability while also providing an impetus to rural development and employment. The Action Plan for Rural Development (2017) underlines how the bio economy can contribute to decarbonisation, sustainable growth and job creation in the agricultural, industrial and technological sectors in rural areas. With Kilkenny’s large rural economy, the potential for the bio economy to boost employment in County is clear. Bioenergy is energy extracted from biomass which includes biological material such as plants and animals, wood, agricultural residue and waste. Bioenergy is produced through many different processes: combustion and anaerobic digestion being the most common and widely used. Combustion is the energy conversion process whereby biomass (for example wood chips) is burned to produce process heat or to heat space or hot water. Anaerobic digestion involves the bacterial transformation of biomass (for example animal manure) to produce biogas which can be upgraded to Biomethane or biogas. The biogas can be used to fuel a stationary gas engine or gas turbine to produce electricity or burned in a boiler to provide heat or to raise steam. Biomethane can also be compressed and used as a transport fuel. The majority of current biomass-derived energy comes from wood combustion to produce heat.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 215 Biofuel is often used to refer to liquid or gaseous fuel extracted from biomass. Biofuel and bioenergy are the same, both mean energy derived from biomass. Biofuel has become associated with transport fuel in Ireland; bioethanol is used in petrol spark ignition engines and biodiesel is used in compression ignition diesel engines. Biofuel produced from vegetable oils/animal fats can be used in unprocessed form or converted to biodiesel. Bioethanol is produced from the fermentation of organic materials such as sugar beet and cereals. Bioenergy offers significant opportunities for rural communities to diversify into clean energy. In 2010, the Government introduced a biofuel obligation on suppliers of petrol and diesel to ensure that a set percentage of their supply is composed of biofuel. The percentage is currently set at 8.69% by volume per annum but this rate is expected to be increased over time. This obligation on fuel blenders will be a key component in achieving the national target of 13.4% renewable energy in the transport sector by 2030 as set out under the NECP 2021 – 2030. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is the simultaneous production of heat and power. CHP is the most efficient option for producing electricity with total efficiencies of 85% or greater possible. A modern power station has an efficiency of up to 35% with a further 10% of power generated lost in transmission. CHP technologies based on biomass combustion represent a great potential to reduce CO2 emissions since they are based on utilisation of renewable energy sources (for example forest residue, wood fuels or sawdust). They also have the potential to increase local employment as fuel is sourced locally. Recycled timbers also form a waste management solution and a particular CO2 net benefit when used in power or heat production. Biomass district heating has many advantages. It can: • Contribute towards the national target of 24% for renewable heating and cooling by 2030 • Significantly reduce CO2 emissions and help combat climate change • Combat fuel poverty by delivering lower cost heat to low income homes • Create employment and sustain jobs by providing lower cost heat to customers • Provide a secure heat supply from locally sourced biomass fuel. The key objectives of the Plan are to increase the contribution of bioenergy to the region’s energy balance, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, decrease the carbon footprint of the region in terms of GHG emissions and promote rural development and sustainable agriculture. The bioenergy industry is comprised of several elements set out below: 11.7.2 Wood Energy Supply Chain Wood fuels are available in a number of generic forms. These include wood wastes, forest residues and energy crops. Some wood fuels are processed to provide a higher quality and more user-friendly product such as wood pellets and wood chips. There are considerable forestry plantations in the county. According to the Forest Service, 9.6% of the county was in forest cover in 2017, amounting to approximately 19,795 hectares. In Kilkenny it is likely that forestry will provide the main source of biomass for the foreseeable future.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 216 11.7.3 Short rotation forestry Short rotation forestry is the production of wood fuel through the cultivation of high-yielding trees at close spacing on short time rotations. Species such as willow and poplar are ideal for short rotation forestry, as they are easy to establish, fast growing, suitable for a variety of sites and resistant to pests and disease. 11.7.4 Energy crops The main commonly grown energy crops in Ireland were Willow and Miscanthus. 11.7.5 Liquid Biofuels Liquid biofuels are derived from biomass crops or by-products that are suitable for use in vehicle engines or heating systems. Biofuels can be considered as potential replacements or extenders for mineral fuels such as diesel or petrol. They can be sub-divided into a number of categories, the principal two being: 1. Vegetable oils/animal fats which can be used in unprocessed form or converted to biodiesel; 2. Bio-ethanol produced from the fermentation of organic materials such as sugar beet, cereals, etc. 11.7.6 Renewables Gas The greenhouse gases created by agricultural and food waste emissions can be captured and converted into energy. This is done through a process called Anaerobic Digestion. The output, renewable gas, is then injected into the existing national gas network or transported as compressed BioMethane for the end user to replace Oil and Fossil Gas in their heat or transport uses supporting the decarbonising of the Heat and Transport Sector. Advantages of renewable gas are that it can be stored and distributed as a liquid or gas to its end user. Creates local jobs sustainability for the lifetime of the plant in supply chain and upstream in bio fertiliser production to replace fossil based synthetic fertilisers widely used in agriculture. 11.7.7 Renewable Gas Anaerobic Digestion (Biomethane) The process of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) involves the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and enzymes in an oxygen-free environment. The end product of this process is biogas which is a gas with a high methane content. This methane can be captured and burned to produce heat, electricity or a combination of the two. It is the policy of the Plan to encourage the development of such anaerobic digestion and renewable gas infrastructure in County Kilkenny. Anaerobic Digestion is used widely in the agricultural sector in the form of small on-farm digesters producing biogas to heat farmhouses and other farm buildings. The main types of organic material feedstock used in AD are: • sewage sludge

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 217 • farm slurry • municipal solid waste (MSW) An anaerobic digestion plant typically comprises of: - a digester tank - buildings to house ancillary equipment such as a generator, a biogas storage tank - a flare stack (3-10m in height) - associated pipework. Plants can vary in scale from small schemes treating the waste from an individual farm through medium-sized centralised facilities dealing with wastes from several farms (potentially supplemented by crops such as maize grown specifically to feed the digester) to sizeable industrial AD plant handling large quantities of municipal solid waste. In the case of small plants it is likely that the plant can be accommodated within the vicinity of existing farm buildings. Some forms of biomass produce digestate and other end products which must be disposed of. The Camphill community in Ballytobin uses an anaerobic digester which performs centralised codigestion of farm slurry with mixed food waste. This generates energy (heat and power) to meet the requirements of the 90 people living in Ballytobin Camphill Community. Permission was granted (P.12/354) for an anaerobic digestor at a piggery in Piltown. The 3 Counties Energy Agency are working through the gas innovation fund 2020 to identify the renewable gas resource potential in Co. Kilkenny within the South East Region. The findings of this report in 2021 will support the locating of grid gas injection points strategically located around the region to make this gas available to meet the fossil gas demands in the urban centres of the counties. 11.7.8 Combined Heat and Power Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a technology that uses the energy produced in the combustion of fuel to produce both useful heat energy and electricity. CHP can refer to gas fired CHP or to biomass CHP. Biomass CHP is a form of renewable energy. In Ireland most CHP plants burn gas. CHP Systems will comprise the following key components: - - Fuel delivery and storage facilities (if fuelled by biomass) - Boiler/turbine - Connecting pipework - Heat exchanger/heat recovery generator CHP plants are available in a range of scales, from micro-CHP domestic applications, small scale CHP plants, medium size plants serving an office block to large industrial applications and CHP plants serving district heating schemes. There are no medium or large-scale CHP plants in the county.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 218 11.7.9 Energy Recovery from Waste As our need for energy increases, the recovery of energy trapped in waste materials can benefit the environment by replacing energy from non-renewable sources. Even after extensive recycling, the residual waste stream still has a high combustible content available for energy recovery. Section 16.4.5 of The Southern Region Waste Management Plan 2015-2021, sets out the policies in relation to energy from waste (Thermal Recovery). The Plan takes a National view on thermal recovery and predicts a required additional 300,000 tonnes thermal of recovery capacity for non-hazardous waste and 50,000 tonnes for hazardous wastes nationwide by 2030. The Plan recognises the need for thermal recovery capacity to be developed specifically for the on-site treatment of industrial process waste and where justifiable the treatment of such waste at merchant thermal recovery facilities. Kilkenny County Council recognises the need to support the development of bioenergy resources. The Council will support and encourage the development of the bioenergy sector and facilitate its development for energy production, heat storage and distribution, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and development management requirements. In urban areas, Kilkenny County Council will support plants for the sustainable production of bioenergy, storage of heat and distribution of gas and electricity on brownfields sites within or adjacent to existing industrial areas or on lands zoned for future industrial use. Plants shall be located close to the point of demand and public roads shall have sufficient capacity to absorb any traffic generated by the plant. In rural areas, Kilkenny County Council will consider proposals for small scale developments on brownfields sites or within farm complexes close to the source material where public roads have sufficient capacity to absorb any traffic generated by the plant. The Council will support and encourage the development of biomass district heating and facilitate its development for energy production, heat storage and distribution, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the development management requirements. 11.7.10 District Heating District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralised location through a system of insulated pipes for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating. Recoverable or ‘waste’ heat is an unavoidable by-product of thermal power production and many large industries such as data centres. Such industries can lead to huge energy waste. There is a benefit in using such excess heat for neighbouring heating requirements, but that approach is based on relative proximity and co-location of such industries with heat users such as offices and residential areas is required at planning stage. The Council will support and promote co-location where heat as an industrial by product can be utilised for the generation of space heating and water heating in adjacent areas/districts. The relevant resource documents will be considered when considering proposals for district heating, being “Assessment of Geothermal Resources for District heating in Ireland” and the “Roadmap for a Policy and Regulatory framework for Geothermal Energy in Ireland”. 11.7.11 Development Management Guidance: Sites for commercial scale generation of bioenergy combined heat and power plants (CHP) should be located in brownfield sites within or adjacent to existing or future industrial areas or co-located with

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 219 other wood processing industries. Plants should be close to the point of demand and public roads should have adequate capacity to absorb any traffic generated by the plant. Accordingly, the Council will facilitate the development of Organic Waste to Energy/Combined Heat and Power schemes, subject to the criteria for location of waste management facilities and compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the development management requirements. Kilkenny County Council will also support the sustainable production of bioenergy where such production is based on Sustainable Forestry Management and best practices in growing of energy crops. Bioenergy CHP plants shall not be located where such plants have the potential to impact residential or other amenities or environmental quality by virtue of: o emissions to air, ground, water, o visual impact, o noise or light pollution BioMethane (Compressed natural Gas) should be located in rural agriculture setting as a diversification option for beef sector. The Planning Authority will consider the following when considering applications for planning consent for Bioenergy plants. Table 11.5: Summary of potential impacts from anaerobic digestors/CHP plants Issue Potential impact Visual Scale of the proposed development Visual impact of the digester, plant building(s) and chimney stack/flue on landscape, including protected views Hydrology Potential for pollution from operational procedures, e.g. spillages and from digestate and potential for contaminants to enter soil, groundwater and streams Potential ecological impacts of nitrogen deposition Noise During construction and during operation from plant operation and deliveries Air quality Odour from storage of wastes and feedstock, digestion process, transport, and disposal of digestate, dust and emissions may impact on proximate residential amenity. May require an assessment of their impacts and a model of emissions dispersion. Light pollution If operation is proposed on 24/7 basis Traffic and transport Increase in vehicle movements to and from the property; use of rail freight or shipping could be considered. Architectural heritage Impact on character of setting of protected building

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    Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 220 In order to address these potential impacts, each application is to be assessed having due regard to the likelihood of any of these impacts and to any proposals for mitigation of same. The site and the size of proposed plants and the process proposed are the main indicators of potential impacts, and hence site size, plant size and nature and current proximate land uses are major considerations. Impacts of potential emissions on the natural environment, including humans, fauna and flora and in particular Natura 2000 sites should be carefully appraised. The origin of the biomass is also a consideration and whether same is to be obtained from sustainably managed resources where best practice in energy crops is applied. The availability of a grid connection and proximity to same is also of importance, as is the need for transmission infrastructure that may have a visual impact. Details of the proposed transmission infrastructure, including any transformers and transmission lines, whether over ground or underground, should therefore be included in the application. Proximity to the point of demand is an important factor in particularly larger plants and due regard should be given to vehicular access and vehicular movements, including proximity to a transport network with adequate capacity. Applications should provide detail on site management measures during both the construction and operational phases. It is advised that community consultation take place in advance of the submission of any application that is likely to give rise to public concerns on siting/design or amenity impacts. 11.8 Hydro Power Hydroelectricity is electricity derived from the power harnessed from the flow of falling water, typically from fast-flowing streams and rivers, impoundment, or in the form of pumped hydro schemes. Carlow-Kilkenny Energy Agency published a report on hydro power potential in the county, entitled Reclaiming Lost Power, Kilkenny’s Potential Hydro power sites in 201011. According to that report, there was a total of 185 KW being generated through hydro power in 2010, see Table below. Table 11.6 Hydro power generating sites in Co. Kilkenny Generating station Address Operator Capacity (kW) Inch Mills Sion Road Kilkenny Inch Hydro Ltd 40 Greenville Mill Kilmacow Benedict Behal 75 Drying Plant Bennettsbridge Nicholas Mosse Pottery 28 Milling Plant Bennettsbridge Nicholas Mosse Pottery 42 Total 185 Source: Reclaiming Lost Power, 2010 11 Carlow-Kilkenny Energy Agency, Reclaiming Lost Power, Kilkenny’s Potential Hydro power sites, 2010

Source Kilkenny County Council: Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.