€200m solar farm proposed for Ireland

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If granted planning permission, the project, named Blackhall solar farm, could become one of the country’s largest solar developments, at an estimated cost of €200 million.

The proposed solar farm would harness renewable energy from a site covering 205 hectares and extending over three land parcels.

GP Joule has submitted planning documents to Meath County Council seeking a 10-year permission for the solar farm.

In the documents, the company stressed the need for a 40-year lifespan to attract adequate funding.

Solar power driving net zero goals

According to the proposal, the Blackhall Solar Farm could generate enough electricity to power approximately 30,000 Irish homes while mitigating around 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

The GP Joule proposal follows the 200MW Ballmacarney solar farm, which was completed in County Meath by Norway’s Statkraft in 2021.

Statkraft Ireland is also actively pursuing various other solar and wind farm projects in the country.

Ireland has set a target to generate 80% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, and 20 solar farm projects, totalling 497MW, were awarded support in the recent onshore Renewables Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, with additional RESS auctions scheduled for this year.