Irish Solar Farms which are currently going through the licencing process
In April we had an update from the DSO, ESB Networks, about the current shape of things to come in the Irish renewables marketplace. This is stage-two of the CRU’s policy on enduring connections (ECP-2.2), where 47 new solar projects and 14 new wind projects have the green light for a combined 580 MW of additional grid-connected renewable electricity for Irish consumers.
By county the breakdown on utility-scale solar projects is Carlow (1), Cavan (1), Clare (2), Cork (9), Donegal (1), Galway (2), Kerry (2), Kildare (2), Kilkenny (5), Limerick (3), Roscommon (2), Tipperary (1), Waterford (2), Westmeath (1) and Wicklow (2).
These figures include 8 community-led projects which have been allocated connections by the DSO but may not have planning permission at this stage. A further 10 small scale solar projects have secured connections for individual companies to meet their own energy needs.
Around 14 solar projects, totalling 132 MWp have been withdrawn from the process possibly due to funding issues as the balance of application fees fell due. The biggest losses were for counties Waterford (40 MWp) and Wexford (34 MWp).
A further 19 solar projects were unsuccessful in this part of the process with applications for a further 254 MWp that will hopefully be realised during the next round of connection offers (ECP-2.3) which begins later this year.
#100000Roofs #SolarNow #Photovoltaics
It’s the least we can do
More is needed, not just for utility-scale projects but also for small-scale rooftop solar PV. Ireland would do well to initiate a #100000roofs campaign, that’s one solar PV project for every welcome we offer. It could significantly boost our efforts to tackle the climate emergency, and at the same time serve to democratise energy production.
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