41. Greensource LtdMonaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 - Pre-Draft Submission Form
Deadline for submissions is Friday 7th July 2023 at 5p.m.
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important topics. These topics are set out as headings below to assist in making a submission. A number of ques ons
are also posed under each of these topic headings to encourage you to think about these topics and to assist you
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they can be addressed under the development plan. Please enter “N/A” in any of the comment boxes where you
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Greensource Ltd
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Susan Byrne
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SUBMISSION INFORMATION
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Greensource Monaghan Co Development Plan_Issues paper
submission .pdf 423.88KB
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DECLARATION
07/07/2023
Monaghan County Council
Greensource submission to Review of
Monaghan County Development Plan – July 2023
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Development Plan submission July 2023
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ISSUE FORM
Project number
Document number
Document revision A
Document title Submission to Monaghan County Development Plan – July 2023
Document status Final
Document prepared by Susan Byrne
Document checked by David Mc Donnell
Development Plan submission July 2023
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Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1
2 GREENSOURCE ENERGY – COMPANY BACKGROUND ............................................... 1
3 MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS ............................... 1
4 POLICY AND LEGISLATION ...................................................................................... 2
4.1 International ..................................................................................................................... 2
4.2 European .......................................................................................................................... 2
4.3 National ........................................................................................................................... 3
4.4 Regional ........................................................................................................................... 4
4.5 Local ................................................................................................................................. 4
4.5.1 Monaghan Renewable Energy Strategy .......................................................................................... 4
4.5.2 Monaghan County Development Plan ............................................................................................ 5
5 PROPOSED MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2025 – 2031 ...................... 6
6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY MONAGHAN ........................................................... 6
7 DEVELOPMENT PLAN 0BJECTIVES AND POLICIES – PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS ...... 8
8 CONCLUDING STATEMENT...................................................................................... 9
Development Plan submission July 2023
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1 INTRODUCTION
Monaghan County Council is commencing the preparation of the Monaghan County Development
Plan 2025-2031. This will be the first County Development Plan prepared by Monaghan County
Council, following the merger of North and South Monaghan County Council in 2014 and is an
important blueprint for the development of Monaghan from a physical, economic, social, and
environmental viewpoint. The process includes a review of the existing County Development Plans
and will set out the overall strategy for the sustainable development of Monaghan for the period up
to 2031. The development plan review process has a series of steps, and this submission is framed on
the Strategic Issues Paper issued in May 2023. The Strategic Issues Paper is the first step in stimulating
engagement on the upcoming revised County Development Plan 2025 - 2031.
2 GREENSOURCE ENERGY – COMPANY BACKGROUND
Greensource is a wholly owned Irish renewable energy company based in Adare, County Limerick. The
company has grown and diversified over the last twenty years, having significant expertise in the
planning, construction and operation of renewable energy projects in Ireland and abroad. Since
inception, the company has played a key role in the development of over 150 MW of renewable energy
projects in Ireland, playing a significant role in further decarbonising the electricity market in this
country.
Greensource has developed a suite of renewable energy projects including wind and biogas, involving
one of the first, state of the art farm-scale anaerobic digestion plants in Ireland, which has been
operational since 2010. The GreenGas Anaerobic Digestion Plant processes manure and slurry as well
as other imported feedstock to convert these materials into energy, adding 1MW of renewable
electricity generation into the national grid. The GreenGas plant provided a roadmap for the
development of farm scale anaerobic digestion plants in Ireland.
Greensource believes a major focus is required on the benefit to communities in the vicinity of
renewable energy projects. Greensource has a strong affiliation to community benefit from the
projects developed, with neighbouring communities having benefitted by in excess of €100,000 to
date from these projects. The involvement of local communities and the development of community
renewable energy projects will be key in ensuring renewable electricity targets are achieved. The
development of small scale (<5MW) community renewable energy projects in Monaghan, on both
private and commercial lands will provide educational, economic and employment opportunities in
local communities. The benefits of such an approach are already evident in Tipperary, with Ireland’s
first community owned windfarm, Templederry Community Windfarm in operation. Greensource
provided an advisory role in the development phase of this project and are therefore cognisant of the
challenges and opportunities present for community renewable energy projects.
3 MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS
The review of the Monaghan County Development Plan commenced in May 2023 with the issuing of
the Strategic Issues Paper as part of the Pre-Draft Public Consultation Phase. This first stage in the
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process has a focus on seeking engagement on objectives and policies to deliver an overall strategy
for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county. The county council is seeking
submissions/observations that are strategic in nature and focus on ‘big picture’ issues.
The Strategic Issues Paper identifies a number of themes for consideration, as follows:
Environmental Assessment and Monitoring
Settlement Strategy
Housing Strategy
Climate Change, Environment and Heritage
Economic Activity
Infrastructure and Services
Community Services and Facilities
The ongoing development of renewable energy and green infrastructure touches on each of the
themes outlined above.
The following are some of the key issues that should be considered in the preparation of the first draft
of the development plan in terms of Energy.
Sustainable development
Policies and objectives that tackle the onset of climate change
Sustaining business and economy, while protecting or enhancing our environment
Security of supply in terms of Energy
Sustaining rural Ireland population and providing local employment
Zoning of sufficient lands to facilitate the ongoing delivery of wind energy projects
4 POLICY AND LEGISLATION
4.1 INTERNATIONAL
Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and The Paris Agreement on climate change require a
transformational shift of our economies and societies towards climate resilient and sustainable
development. In light of the issues of energy security and possible future resource constraints and the
issue of global warming, the renewable energy sector looks set to play a bigger role in the economic
and infrastructural future of our country.
4.2 EUROPEAN
The Irish government supports the ambition within the European Union (The European Green Deal)
to achieve a net zero target by 2050 and the pathway to 2030 which would be consistent with a net
zero target by 2030.
The European Green Deal provides an action plan to:
• Boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy
• Restore biodiversity and cut pollution
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The plan outlines investments needed and financing tools available. It explains how to ensure a just
and inclusive transition.
The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050. Reaching this target will require action by all sectors of our
European country economies, including:
• Investing in environmentally-friendly technologies
• Supporting industry to innovate
• Rolling out cleaner, cheaper and healthier forms of private and public transport
• Decarbonising the energy sector
• Ensuring buildings are more energy efficient
• Working with international partners to improve global environmental standards
The EU will also provide financial support and technical assistance to help those that are most affected
by the move towards the green economy. This is called the Just Transition Mechanism. It will help
mobilise at least €100 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most affected regions.
Ireland through its national policies and legislation along with regional and county development plans
will provide a strong planning framework that will provide a pathway for investment and change. The
new Monaghan County Development Plan should have the key mechanisms, policy or objectives that
are aligned with the European Green Deal so we can maximise the benefit to society.
4.3 NATIONAL
The Monaghan County Development Plan will be guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals
and will be consistent with the National Planning Framework ‘Project Ireland 2040’ and the Regional
Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region in areas such as climate action
and clean energy.
The transition to a low carbon electricity system, based on renewable energy generation and storage
is a key pillar of Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework. The requirement for energy
security and climate action has led to increased focus on renewable energy generation in Ireland. In
2022 wind generation provided 34% of the electricity generated in Ireland, up from 32.5% in 2019 and
25% in 2017. It is well recognised that Ireland has excellent renewable energy resources, with
technologies such as offshore wind, tidal etc. remaining vastly untapped. Other technologies such as
solar have seen major developments, with numerous projects receiving successful grants of planning
permission in Monaghan in recent years. It is envisaged that many of these developments will become
operational over the lifetime of the new Monaghan County Development Plan. The predominant
source of renewable energy production in Monaghan remains wind generation.
In order to achieve climate action goals, the development of further renewable energy projects is
required, along with the diversification of associated technologies. There is an obligation to increase
reliance from 30% to 80%, (with peat and coal plants closing) across the country. The delivery of
Irelands largest battery storage project in Lisdrum, near Monaghan Town is a positive step towards
Irelands low carbon transition. The strategic location of Monaghan provides substantial opportunities
for the further development of onshore renewable energy technologies in conjunction with the North-
South Interconnector and battery storage at Lisdrum.
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Continued support of renewable energy technologies and associated infrastructure will be required
as part of the proposed Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 to ensure local and national
needs are met.
The Climate Action Plan 2023, issued by the Department of Communications, Climate Action &
Environment recognises that Ireland must significantly step up its commitments to tackle climate
disruption, with a local authority leadership role required to achieve decarbonisation goals. The
Climate Action Plan 2023, sets out objectives in relation to renewable electricity:
• Increase reliance on renewables from 30% to 80% setting targets of 9GW from onshore
wind, 8GW from solar and at least 5GW from offshore wind by 2030, with some of this
delivered by private contracts.
• The Microgeneration Support Scheme will support micro-generation with a price for selling
power to the grid.
• The Community Energy Framework will open up opportunities for community participation
in renewable generation by opening up new routes to market and will address barriers
identified in grid connections.
4.4 REGIONAL
The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region has policies that
relate directly to energy infrastructure and renewable energy. These are reproduced below.
Regional Policy Objective 8.1: The Assembly support the development of a safe, secure and reliable
electricity network and the transition towards a low carbon economy centred on energy efficiency
and the growth projects outlined and described in this strategy.
Regional Policy Objective 8.2: Support the reinforcement and strengthening of the electricity
transmission network with particular reference to the regionally important projects.
Regional Policy Objective 8.3: The Assembly support the necessary integration of the transmission
network requirements to allow linkages with renewable energy proposals at all levels to the electricity
transmission grid in a sustainable and timely manner.
Regional Policy Objective 8.4: That reinforcements and new electricity transmission infrastructure are
put in place and their provision is supported, to ensure the energy needs of future population and
economic expansion within designated growth areas and across the region can be delivered in a
sustainable and timely manner and that capacity is available at local and regional scale to meet future
needs. Ensure that development minimises impacts on designated areas.
4.5 LOCAL
4.5.1 Monaghan Renewable Energy Strategy
The current Monaghan County Development Plan (2019-2025) does not include a detailed wind
energy strategy or outline distinct guidelines around the development wind energy. However, Section
9.15 states that “Monaghan County Council will seek to achieve a balance between enabling the wind
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energy resource of the County to be harnessed while taking account of the visual, environmental and
amenity impacts to ensure consistency with proper planning and sustainable development. The
Planning Authority will adopt a favourable approach to wind energy development provided they are
sited so as not to cause a serious negative impact on the special character and appearance of the
landscape, designated conservation areas, protected structures or sites of archaeological
importance.”
Greensource believe that a Renewable Energy Strategy for Co Monaghan will provide clarity and is
important for the development of renewable energy where it guides and facilitates appropriate site
selection. Furthermore, the development of wind energy infrastructure that implements an
environmentally, socially and economically sensitive approach will benefit all.
A Renewable Energy Strategy should identify areas which are deemed suitable or unsuitable for wind
energy development, under the following categories:
• strategic areas,
• preferred areas,
• areas open for consideration, and
• no-go’ areas.
As technologies have advanced, turbines have been developed which can yield the same energy from
lower wind sites than their older counter parts. Greensource recommend the exclusion of wind
resource data when developing and zoning areas for renewable energy development.
Greensource also believe that grid constraints should not be considered by the local authority in the
preparation of the County Development Plan as this is identified as a developer’s constraint. We ask
that this is taken into consideration in the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031.
4.5.2 Monaghan County Development Plan
As set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, each local
authority will be required to plan for climate action. This plan will specify the mitigation measures and
the adaption measures to be adopted by the local authority, with regard to national frameworks and
policies on climate change. Renewable energy strategies and the ongoing support of renewable
energy projects within the local authority area will be key in achieving climate action and development
of a low carbon economy.
The transition and implementation of the development plan is interlinked with national and European
policies such as the European Green Deal, which outlines a roadmap for making the European
economy sustainable, turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities.
The implementation of the new Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 has the potential to
provide an opportunity for significant habitat restoration and enhancement, clean energy by providing
opportunities for alternative, cleaner sources of energy, sustainable agriculture through landowner
income associated with renewable energy developments and rural development as a result of
community benefit funds associated with renewable energy developments.
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Continued support of renewable energy technologies and associated infrastructure will be required
as part of the proposed Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 to ensure local and national
needs are met.
In supporting the objectives of the Climate Action Plan 2023, acknowledgement must be given to the
existing renewable energy developments in operation in County Monaghan and the requirement for
the addition of further renewable energy developments and the technological diversification of such
developments including bio-mass, wind power, small scale hydro power, anaerobic digestion, solar
PV, hydrogen and other such technologies which may emerge over the period of this development
plan. The contribution of small-scale renewables including domestic and agricultural is likely to grow.
5 PROPOSED MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2025 – 2031
Monaghan County Council has commenced the preparation of the Monaghan Development Plan
2025-2031 in publishing the Strategic Issues Paper for review and to encourage submissions and
proposals from the public and interested parties.
The preparation of the Monaghan County Development Plan is one of the most important functions
of the council acting as the blueprint for the development of Monaghan from a physical, economic,
social and environmental viewpoint. The process includes a review of the existing development plans
and will set out the overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of
Monaghan as a whole over a six-year period up to 2031.
The development of the new county development plan will be informed and guided by existing policy
and legislation but will also build on the work completed in the previous plans.
6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY MONAGHAN
In developing a new Monaghan County Development Plan the future is being set out through policies,
objectives and zoning. The process of reviewing the previous development plans and developing the
fundamentals of the new plan will in itself identify challenges but also opportunities for the county.
In terms of renewable energy, the challenges ahead are clear if we are to achieve our national targets
and de-carbonise our economy. While we won’t achieve everything in the short term it is essential
that there is a long-term plan with clear targets and a mechanism through the planning process to
deliver projects.
In developing the first draft of the proposed Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 we
request the Local Authority be mindful or consider the following potential gains that can be achieved
with an integrated plan for renewable energy in the near future.
The following are some of the main opportunities that will arise:
Increased generation of Green Energy in the county across all technologies.
Continued Investment in projects and in the local economy.
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Guaranteed income stream of €2 per megawatt hour from RESS projects that is ring fenced for
communities.
Increased and continuous income from rates from wind farm projects providing a valuable
income stream for the Local Authority – this can be used for projects and infrastructure that will
ultimately benefit society.
Continued employment across a range of sectors including construction, planning, design,
environment, grid and operational phase maintenance.
Sustainability – working towards a sustainable and balanced economy and way of life going
forward that benefit from reduced fossil fuel consumption.
Improving the reliability of energy supply into the future with reliance on locally generated
renewable energy while replacing fossil fuel dependency.
Reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality.
Ongoing upgrades to our national grid infrastructure to facilitate renewable energy generation.
Companies are seeking to use renewable energy for their business and will seek out opportunities
or locations where there is a strong grid infrastructure and availability of reliable renewable
generation.
Demand for power is increasing and in areas such as the development of data centres where
significant load is required. This taken in the context of the closing of key electricity generation
plants including Moneypoint and Edenderry, and the development of the North-South
Interconnector, Monaghan is well placed to become as regional energy generator.
There is an opportunity in the Northern and Western Region of Ireland to grow based on our
experience in delivery of renewable energy projects over the last 20 years and further provide
jobs and employment in this niche sector. Skills and expertise which are in demand across Europe
in renewable energy generation are well developed here but can be grown more.
The items above are an overview and there are many indirect benefits that will not be apparent at
this stage. The experience in countries like Denmark where the renewable energy sector is very well
developed and moving almost completely away from fossil fuel use, is that the benefits to a county,
its environment and people is very clear over time.
Monaghan is in a strategic location to enable the decarbonisation of the gas network through the
development of biogas infrastructure in the county and the resulting grid injection of renewable gas.
Gas Networks Ireland have published Vision 2050 aiming to achieve a net zero carbon gas network
by 2050. Gas Networks Ireland plans to inject 50% carbon neutral or zero carbon gases into the
network, with renewable gas generated through the anaerobic digestion process key to achieving
this. Therefore, significant support of anaerobic digestion facilities will be required and the associated
gas network injection infrastructure. Development of the gas grid in Monaghan will be required to
avail of the opportunities for the development of anaerobic digestion facilities to ensure renewable
gas targets are achieved.
The transition to a low carbon economy places emphasis on a move from petrol and diesel vehicles,
towards EV and potentially biogas and hydrogen in the future. This transition places further emphasis
and requirements on renewable energy generation to provide for these low carbon modes of
transport. Bus networks, electric cars and bikes will be commonplace on the streets and roads of
Monaghan during the County Development Plan 2025-2031, placing additional pressures on the
electricity transmission and distribution systems, and the requirement for charging points for electric
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vehicles, and filling stations for biogas/hydrogen powered vehicles. Major road networks in Monaghan
such as the N2 and N54 will provide refuelling/charging facilities for alternatively powered vehicles.
This transition requires additional installation of renewable energy developments including wind,
solar and biogas. The support of further renewable energy developments will lead to the
establishment of a support system for biogas powered vehicles including buses etc. placing Monaghan
to the fore of energy security and low carbon electricity and transport systems.
It was planned that the Moneypoint electricity generation station and SSE’s oil-burning Tarbert unit
will cease operation (closure date extended to 2025), leaving an energy short-fall of 1050MW. This
represents an estimated one-fifth of the Irish Republics peak requirements. While the government
has stated that no closures will take place until they are replaced with secure supply and secure
renewables, this may take a considerable amount of time. Without significant investment and
support of renewable energy projects in the region, energy security is a major concern, with a threat
of limited supply imminent. This closure, coupled with the requirements the transition to electric
vehicles will place on the electricity network, places further emphasis on the required support of
renewable energy projects and associated grid connections in the country and specifically in the
Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 in this instance. The development of large-scale
electricity users such as data centres which can have a requirement of in excess of 20MW, will place
further constraints on the electricity network. The co-development of industries such as data centres
and renewable energy projects will be required.
In Ireland, we are in the process of change and transition and this journey will have many twists and
turns. What is certain is that a robust Monaghan County Development Plan with an integrated
approach on renewable energy and climate change is essential to bridging the implementation gap.
7 DEVELOPMENT PLAN 0BJECTIVES AND POLICIES – PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS
In preparing this submission the following were completed:
Review of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 - 2031 Strategic Issues Paper
Review of the Northern & Western Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020 - 2032
Government of Ireland Climate Action Plan 2023
Monaghan County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019 – 2024
County Monaghan Social Enterprise Strategy 2021 - 2025
Desk based constraints analysis
Mapping of grid infrastructure
Identification of potential areas that are suitable to provide additional renewable energy
generation
In preparation of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031, Greensource recommend the
following:
Regional approach towards wind energy zoning taking changes to neighbouring county zoning
patterns into account.
Exclusion of wind speeds as a criterion for developing and zoning areas for renewable energy
development.
Development Plan submission July 2023
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Exclusion of grid constraints as a criterion for developing wind energy zoning.
Support for projects which may enter the repowering stage during the lifetime of the
development plan.
Support of alternative renewable energy technologies including biogas, battery storage,
hydrogen or other technologies which may become available over the duration of the
development plan.
We note from the Issues Paper that at this stage the focus is in identifying the “big ticket“ or
fundamental items. Consequently, we have focused on what aspects could fundamentally change that
would give a step change in the potential to generate significantly more renewable energy in the
county.
8 CONCLUDING STATEMENT
Greensource is one of the leading innovative energy companies in Ireland and has a clear focus on
being one of the drivers for change in the transition to a low carbon economy. In order for that,
companies like Greensource need clear pathways through planning and development as the typical
timeline from identifying a potential site to the day it is energised can be between 3 and 5 years subject
to factors like Judicial Review proceedings. In that regard the County Development Plan becomes a
key instrument for industry to follow and be guided by as we move forward in time.
Greensource have completed a strategic level analysis based on a constraints approach and have
identified areas of land that can afford new renewable energy generation capacity for the county.
Greensource look forward to engaging with the forward planning unit in Monaghan County Council
over the coming months and will bring their knowledge and expertise to the discussion where
appropriate.