Solar Power

ESB and Bord na Móna partner with French company Volatalia to build solar farm in Kildare

It is the first joint venture on solar energy between the two government bodies

John Reilly, head of renewables at Bord na Móna, said the project was part of its plans to diversify. Picture: Jeff Harvey

ESB and Bord na Móna are engaging in their first joint venture in solar energy at a site in Co. Kildare. Voltalia, a French renewable energy business, will built the 108 megawatt (MW) solar farm on the site.

The project aims to provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 25,000 homes annually and is part of a four site 500MW project by ESB and Bord na Móna across Kildare, Offaly and Roscommon.

John Reilly, Bord na Móna's head of renewable energy, said the project was part of the body’s efforts to diversify its approach to renewable energy.

"While still in its infancy, the solar industry in Ireland has the potential to play a pivotal role in Ireland’s renewable energy future.”

ESB expects to invest around €200 million over the next two years during this first phase of its solar rollout.

Jim Dollard, ESB’s executive director of generation and trading, said: "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.”