Micro Generation exemptions – Industry & Commerce
Minister John Gormley (Environment, Heritage & Local Government), is proposing exemption from planning for a number of micro generation technologies. The minister’s consultation document sets out details of the exemptions and conditions that might apply for the industrial, commercial, public and agricultural sectors. The proposed exemptions would give considerable support and initiative to the development of Ireland’s indigenous energy industry and renewable energy technologies. The consultation period ends on January 18th 2008. A summary of the proposed exemptions is given below:-
CHP (Combined Heat and Power) Systems
Industrial buildings:
- Gross floor space < 500 m2
- Max height = 10m and max length = 50m
- 200m from nearest inhabited dwelling
- 50m from nearest public road
- Up to 2 flues, max height 20m and max diameter 2m
- Noise levels < 43db(A) or <5 db(A) above background noise at site boundary
- Only 1 per site.
Public and commercial buildings and agricultural structures:
- As above, except
- Gross floor space < 300 m2
- Max height = 8m and max length = 40m
- Flue height 15m
Wind turbines
Industrial, public and commercial buildings, and agricultural structures:
- No exemption for building-mounted turbines
- Max height < 20m
- Rotor diameter < 8m
- Ground clearance > 3m
- Turbine height plus 1 m from nearest party boundary
- 100m from nearest inhabited dwelling
- 50m from nearest public road
- 2 rotor diameters from overhead cables
- Noise levels < 43db(A) or <5 db(A) above background noise at site boundary
- Only 1 per site
- No logos, and non-reflective finish
Met masts
- Max length of time in position < 9 months out of an 18 month period
- Max height < 50m
- Turbine height plus 1 m from nearest party boundary
- Only 1 per site
- No logos, and non-reflective finish
Solar panels
Industrial buildings:
- < 1m from plane of a pitched roof to panel
- < 2m from plane of a flat roof to panel
- 50cm from edge of wall or roof
- Aperture area of wall mounted or free-standing arrays < 50m2
- Height of free-standing arrays < 2m
Public and commercial buildings, and agricultural structures:
As above, except:
- Total aperture area < 50m2 or 50% of total roof area, whichever is lesser
- Aperture area of wall mounted or free-standing arrays < 25m2
Ground source and air source heat pumps
Industrial buildings:
- Ground level alteration < 1m above or below adjoining ground
- Total area of heat pumps < 15m2
- 50cm from edge of wall or roof
- Noise levels < 43db(A) or <5 db(A) above background noise at site boundary
Public and commercial buildings, and agricultural structures:
As above, except:
- Total area of heat pumps < 10m2
Biomass
Industrial, public and commercial buildings, and agricultural structures:
- Gross floor space < 20 m2
- Capacity of fuel storage tank above ground < 50,000 litres
- Max height of boiler house or fuel tank < 3m
- Up to 2 flues, max height 15m and max diameter 2m
- 100m from nearest inhabited dwelling
- 50m from nearest public road
- Noise levels < 43db(A) or <5 db(A) above background noise at site boundary
