Voltalia selected as EPC contractor for 108MW Irish solar farm

International energy producer Voltalia has been selected to build a 108MW solar farm in Ireland by ESB and Bord na Móna.

ESB and Bord na Móna, both of which are semi-state-owned companies, selected Voltalia as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the solar farm at Timahoe North, County Kildare.

The Timahoe North solar farm is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024 and will be the first large-scale solar project developed under ESB and Bord’s solar co-development agreement aiming to deliver up to 500MW solar farms based on Bord na Móna lands.

This joint venture will see solar farms created across four midlands locations in Kildare, Offaly and Roscommon.

“This project shows the importance that ESB is placing in solar and demonstrates our commitment to developing a growing portfolio of solar assets in Ireland,” said Jim Dollard, ESB executive director, generation and trading.

“ESB has a proven record of delivering renewable energy projects at scale and we are looking forward to working with our partners Bord na Móna to deliver Timahoe North and other projects in the future as part of this joint venture.

“This project is part of ESB's wider investment in solar farms, and ESB expect to invest €200m over the next two years in the first phase of our solar roll out, as we move towards our ultimate goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040.”

Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia, said: “Since the beginning of the year, the expertise of our teams has enabled us to grow in Ireland as service provider. Today, we are delighted to build this new project and to support our local partners, Bord na Móna and ESB.”

Activity in the Irish solar sector is still picking up pace, with EDF Renewables Ireland breaking ground on three new solar farms with a total capacity of 17MW, NTR acquiring a 54MW portfolio of co-located solar and storage projects in County Wexford and Highfield Solar securing financing for the development of two sites totalling 282MWp in 2021, amongst other developments.