Irish Solar Farms (2026 edition)

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A Growing Solar Landscape in Ireland

Solar power has moved from small rooftop systems to utility-scale solar farms across Ireland. These large ground-mounted installations are now energised and feeding clean electricity into the national grid, supporting energy security and reducing fossil fuel reliance. They vary from tens to over a hundred megawatts in size, spanning several counties and operated by a mix of Irish and international renewables developers.

Vertical Solar Farms in Ireland can produce energy as the grid requires it.

Operational & Energised Solar Farms in Ireland

Bullstown Solar Farm — County Meath

  • Capacity: ~8.4 MW
  • Status: Energised and operational
  • Operator: ESB
  • Overview: ESB’s first wholly-owned utility-scale solar farm, Bullstown was energised in 2025 and can power over 2,000 homes annually. It’s part of ESB’s ambition to develop 1.2 GW of solar capacity by 2030.

Timahoe North Solar Farm — County Kildare

  • Capacity: ~108 MW
  • Status: Operational (energised in 2025)
  • Operator: ESB & Bord na Móna partnership
  • Overview: One of the largest current solar farms in Ireland, Timahoe North delivers clean energy at scale — enough for roughly 25,000 homes — and highlights utility-scale solar’s role in national decarbonisation.

Curraghmartin, Blusheens & Coolroe Solar Farms — Co. Kilkenny & Co. Wexford

  • Capacity: Combined ~17 MW
  • Status: Energised and operational
  • Operator: EDF Renewables
  • Counties: Curraghmartin in Kilkenny; Blusheens & Coolroe in Wexford
  • Overview: Among the first RESS solar projects connected to Ireland’s grid, these farms collectively supply clean power to thousands of homes.

Solar Projects Under Construction or Soon to Be Energised

Garreenleen Solar Farm (Phase 1) — County Carlow (Ørsted)

  • Capacity: ~81 MW (Phase 1)
  • Status: Under construction; expected operational 2026
  • Operator: Ørsted
  • Overview: Ørsted’s first Irish solar project, Garreenleen marks a major utility-scale development. Phase 2 is also planned to expand capacity further.

Ballinrea Solar Farm — County Cork

  • Capacity: ~55 MW
  • Status: Under construction; expected operational 2026
  • Operator: Ørsted
  • Overview: Ørsted’s second Irish solar farm, Ballinrea will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 16,000 homes once complete.

Threecastles Solar Farm — County Wicklow

  • Capacity: ~21.7 MW
  • Status: Construction commenced; expected operational 2026
  • Operator: Neoen
  • Overview: Following from Millvale Solar Farm (Wicklow), Threecastles extends Neoen’s regional footprint and will supply power for around 4,400 homes.

What’s in the Pipeline

🔹 Ballinknockane Solar Farm — County Limerick (Neoen)

  • Capacity: ~79 MW
  • Expected energisation: Mid-2026 (with full operations in early 2027)
  • Significance: First utility-scale solar project in County Limerick, capable of powering ~16,000 homes and backed by community and biodiversity plans.

🔹 Additional RESS-Awarded Projects (Neoen)

  • Johnstown North Solar — Co. Wicklow (~29 MW) and Garr Solar — Co. Offaly (~141 MW) are slated for later in the decade under the RESS 4 auction mechanism, boosting Ireland’s solar capacity further.

Solar’s Contribution to Ireland’s Energy Mix

As of 2025, solar power has made remarkable strides:

  • Connected solar capacity exceeds 1.7 GW, with projections toward 2 GW by late 2025.
  • At peak times, solar accounts for around 6.5 % of Ireland’s electricity demand.
  • Solar generation now supplies clean power equivalent to hundreds of thousands of homes per year and plays a meaningful role in reducing CO₂ emissions.

Beyond Power: Co-Benefits

Solar farms nationwide are integrating biodiversity and land stewardship practices, including:

  • Sheep grazing beneath panels to combine agriculture with energy production
  • Habitat enhancement through native hedgerows and wildflower planting
  • Community benefit funds designed to support local projects during the life of the solar asset.

What’s Next?

Ireland’s utility-scale solar rollout — spanning counties like Meath, Kildare, Carlow, Cork, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Wexford, and soon Limerick and Offaly — showcases a renewable energy transformation in motion. With hundreds of megawatts already operating and gigawatts in development, solar is increasingly a cornerstone of Ireland’s clean energy future.

Contact Solar Now TODAY! to discuss your upcoming solar project.


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