BNRG to seek planning for 105MW Solar Farm in South Kildare

Public Consultation and Information Programme commences

Solar farm would generate sufficient renewable energy to power over 14,000 homes and support €1.8m community fund

Irish-owned renewable energy company BNRG today announced plans to seek planning permission for BNRG Maganey, a proposed 105MW solar farm in southeast Kildare for its BNRG Maganey PV [‘BNRG Maganey’]. Located across 2 rural sites between Athy and Carlow and east of Castledermot, the project would generate sufficient clean green energy to power more than 14,000 homes and support Ireland’s green energy transition.

The proposed 114 hectares solar farm is strategically located near the national grid and the existing 110kV Athy-Carlow overhead transmission line. Carefully selected for its suitability for solar development, the northern Beaconstown and Kilkea Upper site is 80 hectares and bounded to the north and south by farmland with limited direct road frontage. It is entirely screened to the west by established woodland and to the east by trees and scrub. The 34-hectare Johnstown North & South and Crooket site is located on either side of the L8088, just off the L4010.

The local topography was a key consideration in selecting sites, and the solar farm sits on rural, sheltered land. To further support the sites’ suitability for solar, it is planned to retain existing hedgerows, add new fencing and planting, and utilise buffers and set back from public roads to considerably mitigate any visual impacts and screen the low-lying solar array panels.

Over the full site, actual ground cover by the solar panels would equate to less than one-quarter of the land being used and facilitate farm use as grazing for sheep.

BNRG Maganey is today announcing the commencement of a Public Consultation and Information Programme that will take place over the coming months. Its objective is to inform the local community about the project and to obtain feedback to ensure a best-in-class project.

A public information and consultation clinic will take place in Castledermot Community Centre on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 from 3.30 - 6.30pm. This clinic will provide an opportunity to meet experts from BNRG and specialist engineering, environmental and planning consultants Fehily Timoney. A website with project information is also available at www.bnrgmaganey.com, alongside contact details for the project’s Community Liaison Officer.

In addition to displacing up to 21,300 tonnes of carbon emissions annually – relative to electricity generated from fossil fuels – the project promoters are placing significant focus on environmental matters to promote biodiversity, enhance hedgerows for screening and to protect watercourses, soils and geology. On completion the solar farm will remain suitable for continuing agricultural use. Comprehensive archaeological assessments are also underway.

Extensive traffic mitigation measures will be in place to ensure minimal disruption during the up to 12-month build and 3 to 6 month low-impact commissioning phase. Access to houses, farms and businesses will be maintained throughout the build.

A proposed substation, to connect the solar farm to the national grid and an associated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) unit, will be located nearby, in an internal field with no road frontage, off the L4010. This would be the subject of a separate application to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is the appropriate planning authority for what is deemed strategic infrastructure.

Subject to planning and participation in a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, BNRG would expect to establish a Community Benefit Fund in which the local community would be invited to participate and to have their say in how the estimated €1.8 million community fund would be invested over time. This would equate to over €120,000 annually over a 15-year period.

Following a comprehensive public consultation and information programme and completion of a wide range of independent environmental and engineering assessments and reports, BNRG would expect to apply to Kildare County Council for planning permission for BNRG Maganey in late summer 2026. 

Subject to planning and procurement, construction on BNRG Maganey is likely to take place from 2028 with scope for the project to be operational in 2029. Minimum disruption is anticipated as solar arrays would be located on private lands and installed using tried and tested techniques and using underground cabling to connect the sites with the proposed substation.

At the end of the lifecycle of BNRG Maganey the solar panels and their supports will be dismantled and recycled.