SSE Renewables Granted Planning Permission for 21MWp Solar Farm in Ireland
The PV project is situated in County Wexford close to the Richfield wind farm.
Planning permission for a solar farm near SSE Renewables’ current 18-turbine Richfield Wind Farm in Bridgetown, County Wexford, has been granted. This would be the first solar project in Ireland for SSE Renewables. After a period of local public consultation, the company submitted its planning application for the solar development to the Wexford County Council in September 2023.
Richfield Solar Farm Development Details
In the townlands of Hooks and Yoletown, the development consists of a 21MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) array that will share a grid connection with the 27MW Richfield Wind Farm, which has been in operation since 2006. Delivery of the project is contingent upon SSE obtaining a viable route to market and the company making the ultimate investment decision to start construction. Furthermore, the developer stated that in order to allow the new solar project to dynamically share the current export capacity of the existing wind farm, modifications to Ireland’s current grid connection regulations will be necessary.
At Richfield, combined solar and wind power is anticipated to produce more reliable and efficient energy. In addition, the use of shared grid infrastructure will help bring cost efficiencies for energy consumers, supporting Ireland’s goal of producing 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. If completed, the Richfield solar project might produce enough extra solar energy each year to power 4,500 Irish homes, or about 25% more than the region’s average annual renewable energy output. This would be on top of the wind energy produced by the current wind farm, which produces enough renewable energy annually to power 18,000 homes.
Biodiversity and Regulatory Considerations
Apart from the advantages of renewable energy, the proposed development would also contribute to enhancing the biodiversity of the region. After delivery, 15% of the site will be planted with native woodland species, according to SSE Renewables. This would be in accordance with the conditions outlined in the Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028 and help the company meet its own Biodiversity Net Gain targets.
We note that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is expected to publish a policy decision on these reforms later this year, and we are ready to work closely with the Regulator, EirGrid, and Government to remove any remaining barriers to the delivery of such hybrid connections. Ultimately, our ability to reach a positive final investment decision to begin construction will depend on a number of factors, including changes to Ireland’s current grid connection regulations for hybrid connections.
