Lightsource BP will outline its proposal to finance, develop and build a 57MW solar and 54MW co-located energy storage facility at a community information event on May 22, 2024. The project will be located on 182 hectares of land in County Meath, ROI.
Lightsource BP, which finances, develops and manages solar energy projects, invites local residents to the information event. The project is an important facet of the company’s strategy to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.
A bespoke biodiversity management plan will be developed in conjunction with the planning application to ensure the plan improves the site for wildlife.
Lightsource BP is hoping to hear from nature lovers and local schools who may be interested in participating in the ongoing monitoring of wildlife on site. This is part of the company’s commitment to making a positive contribution to all the communities it serves.
Aidan Collins, head of environmental planning in Britain and Ireland at Lightsource BP, said: “Solar energy is not only clean and renewable, but also generates locally produced electricity. This makes solar energy an important part of meeting the global increase in energy demand efficiently and more sustainably, which is a core aspect of Lightsource BP’s sustainability mission.
“We want to ensure that local communities in and around the proposed site get all the information they need about this project. We are organizing this information event to speak to elected officials, local businesses and residents of the local community, and to gather feedback. This event is also a great way for the community to ask any questions they may have about the project or solar energy in general.”
The land retains the potential for agricultural use (agrivoltaic energy). The design proposal for the solar installation is designed in such a way that most of the open grassland on the site – approximately 70% of the installation – will be suitable for grazing small livestock.
The proposed fields were chosen in part due to the existing local topography, which will shield the site and limit surrounding views of the solar farm.
Lightsource BP is expanding in the United Kingdom
In February this year, the company deployed its first UK battery energy storage system (BESS), alongside its solar farm in Lincolnshire.
Lightsource BP is present in 19 countries and has a pipeline of 61 GW, mainly in the European market. In November 2023, the company was fully acquired by oil and gas giant BP.
In the same month, the group has invited submissions for its latest power purchase agreement for companies with multiple buyers, a measure he said would give smaller companies access to solar energy in Europe. This was covered in our sister publication, PV Tech.
Irish energy storage
In February, Bobby Smith, chairman of the Energy Storage Ireland representative group, said Solar energy portal: “Energy storage is a relatively late addition [renewable energy] game. The first battery project was built in Ireland around 2019/2020 and we have had a very successful few years in terms of storage build-out.”
At the end of March, the Gore Street Energy Storage Fund secured a further 385 MW of energy storage in Ireland, of which 130 MW is operational. Ireland is identified as “a consistently lucrative market for the company”.
Solar Power Portal’s publisher, Solar Media, will host the British Solar Summit on June 4 and 5, 2024 in London. The event will explore the new UK utility and rooftop solar landscape, look at the opportunities within a GW+ annual market and much more.
