The application for a solar farm is one of five current proposals by Shannon Airport Authority
Shannon Airport has lodged plans for a 5.5-acre 1.2MW solar farm for the airfield alongside one of its taxiways.
The solar farm plan is just one of five applications Shannon Airport Authority DAC has before Clare County Council as the airport prepares for passenger numbers to exceed two million in 2024.
The airport operator’s planning applications include an additional 1,051 car spaces to serve the airport and an expansion of its departure gates at the terminal building in response to the rising passenger numbers.
In a planning report by Tobin accompanying the application, it states that the solar farm “will benefit Shannon airport by providing a sustainable source of energy, reducing costs and promoting environmental sustainability”.
Project planner Seán Greene, with Tobin Consulting Engineers, has told the council that “by generating a sustainable source of energy, the airport can ensure uninterrupted access to electricity and reduce its reliance on traditional fossil fuels”.
The planned solar farm site lies adjacent to the airport’s taxiway 12 and an engineering report includes an area earmarked for more potential solar farm development adjacent to the site, which is a multiple in size of the initial 5.5-acre plot.
Mr Greene told the council that the planned solar farm “is a critical step towards achieving Shannon Airport Authority DAC’s sustainability goals”.
He also told the council that by leveraging renewable energy sources like solar power, Shannon Airport “can demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship while reaping the benefits of clean energy generation”.
In 2023, Shannon Group increased pre-tax profits by 60pc to €31m as revenues rose to €67.8m. The group’s cash funds totalled €77.4m at the end of last December.
A spokeswoman for Shannon Group said the capital expenditure for the projects “will be funded from our own resources”.
Asked of the total capital outlay, Shannon Group declined to say, pointing out that the group is not in a position to advise on cost ahead of completing the public procurement process.
Regarding a delivery timeline, the spokeswoman said: “We would hope these projects would be tendered in July/August 2024, with a target completion time of Q2, 2025.”