Solar panels and loss of light due to future developments

10-10-20

I have searched on this but can't find any Irish info, possibly because of the specific terminologies used.

Say there is a scenario where somebody has an existing solar installation on a roof which was either installed under the older requirements for planning or after the rules were changed, and a neighbour now intends on building an extension to their house which will impinge upon the direct sunlight received on the panels for a portion of the year.

In the situation where an objection is lodged to the extension on the basis of the loss of light to the solar panels, how would this affect the planning request if at all? Do objections where sunlight loss to solar panels can be proven hold more validity or weight over other loss-of light objections?

As an aside, reading on the ABP site there is considerable mention of "Daylight & Sunlight Planning", but none of it relates directly to solar. The key thing to remember is that solar requires sunlight and not "daylight". Example of documentaiton on the subject below (for SHD developments I know, but the point remains):

https://www.pleanala.ie/publicaccess/EIAR-NIS/311591/IN2%20Documents/D2026%20HSQ2%20Daylight%20%26%20Sunlight%20Report%20Planning%20rev04.pdf

Input appreciated.

zg3409

Solar will work in daylight, less so than sunlight but it will still work.

I assume the intention of the regulations was to stop someone building where old house would lose natural light through windows or garden area.

I doubt solar shading would be a specific thing but you can always object and get ignored. Sometimes they give a little and may appease objectors within reason.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743999#Comment_119743999

Yes agreed on the sunlight/daylight point, but solar isn't barely worthwhile in daylight, so a person would (in my opinion) suffer a material loss - be that electrons in this case - if they lose direct sunlight on the panel.

My situation is hypothetical at this point, I have no panels nor an objection to lodge, but I was curious as to the lie of the land in these respects.

Gumbo

Interesting concept and one that has to be tested as I haven’t seen anything yet.

You have to consider a few things, in the hypothetical situation, you’ll have Solar PV on your roof. There’s very little, if any development that your neighbor can build on their roof that would impact your array.

Maybe a dormer window? But that dormer will be central and won’t span the full Width so shadow should be non existent.

Interesting all the same.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754124#Comment_119754124

Thanks for the response.

Say for example it's not an adjoining neighbour, but a future duplex or apartment block. That's another dynamic.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754157#Comment_119754157

As stated above it is an interesting scenario but I would expect it to be the same result as any right to light when it comes to planning, it would be an interesting court case though to set a precedent for the future.

Padre_Pio

My honest opinion is that they may make some consideration, say build in such a way that you get a few hours of sunlight a day, but I doubt you would get the constant sunlight panels would demand for peak generation.

If you were a commercial operation then you would have a leg to stand on.

Imagine you had a stream on your property and a turbine, and someone further upstream diverted or blocked the water. What recourse could you have then?

sydthebeat

if something is throwing a significant shadow onto a neighbouring roof across the sun path during the day, then it can be pretty,much assumed that the proposed development will significantly impact on loss of light to the private amenity of teh neighbouring dwelling

there are sun / shadow analysis that you can do to measure the impact