They are among the first utility-scale solar farms to be developed under the Government’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and connected to the national grid.
Curraghmartin Solar Farm is located in Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny, while Coolroe Solar Farm, in Ballycullane and Blusheens Solar Farm, in Killinick, are both in Co. Wexford. The projects are the first to be completed following EDF Renewables’ acquisition of 100 percent of Wexford Solar in 2020 which included eight projects with over 100 MW of capacity across the country.
All three projects were successful in Ireland’s first RESS auction, enabling them to supply electricity at a pre-agreed price. In addition to the solar panels, sheep will continue to graze on the site, helping to control the growth of vegetation, and the three solar farms will together save over 9,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
“We’re very proud to have developed some of the first solar farms in Ireland” said Jenny Howard, Head of Development at EDF Renewables Ireland. “Solar energy has a crucial role to play in ensuring Ireland has a diverse, low-carbon energy mix and can safeguard its own supply of electricity. These three projects mark another step towards achieving the Government’s target of 8 GW of solar energy by 2030, and each will also make a positive local contribution, providing funding for community projects and initiatives via the Community Benefit Funds. I’d like to congratulate our entire team on the successful delivery of these projects, and we look forward to supporting the continued growth of Ireland’s emerging solar sector in the years to come.”
Stephen Wall, landowner at Curraghmartin Solar Farm in Kilkenny, added that developing solar is a win-win for farmers and can really benefit the agriculture sector and farming communities, with farmers receiving rent in return for the panels while being able to continue grazing sheep on the land, thereby producing both food and renewable energy.
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