Solar farm to meet 75pc of Citywest’s energy needs

Recent figures published by the Department of Integration show that Citywest operator Cape Wrath UC received State payments of €34.59m for accommodating Ukrainians and International Protection applicants in 2022.

The convention centre at the 764-bed Citywest Hotel has been used as a transit hub run by the department, where Ukrainians and asylum seekers are processed before being moved to other accommodation.

Now, the Tetrarch Capital-owned Cape Wrath UC is looking to re invest some of that money in a solar farm across 8.6-acres on the former Citywest golf course.

Cape Wrath UC currently has before South Dublin County Council a separate planning application for a €20m 8,047 burial-plot cemetery on a 33-acre site on the grounds of a former 18-hole golf course.

In planning documentation lodged with the new solar farm scheme, it states that the operational lifespan of the solar farm development will be 30 years.

The golf course closed in 2020 and the planning documentation states that the solar farm will produce 3.1MW of power and address 75pc of the 215-acre Citywest complex energy requirements.

The planning report states that “this will result in a significant carbon saving of 1,446 tonnes per annum or 40,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the development”.

The report states that an annual reduction of 1,466 tonnes of CO2 is the equivalent of having 68,544 adult trees planted in terms of carbon offset.

Outlining the rationale for the proposal, the planning report states that the solar farm providing 75pc of the hotel complex’s energy needs “is a significant energy saving given the demand on the hotel and is vital to the sustainability and longevity of the complex”.

The report further states that the proposal “will help secure and create further employment and improve conditions for the growth of the company”.

The planning report states that the input from hired experts into the proposal “ensures that the project does not diminish the area’s amenity or harm the environment”.

The report states that the scheme will be overwhelmingly beneficial in terms of renewable energy production “and will deliver a net planning and biodiversity gain”.

A decision is due on the application in July.