The three solar farms will be built in County Cork on behalf of Amarenco, a European renewable energy company founded in Ireland. Greenvolt Next will manage the pipeline from development through construction and delivery, with delivery expected in 2027.
When operational, the three solar farms will have a total installed capacity of 32 MW in total.
The contract demonstrates a growth milestone for Greenvolt Next’s EPC capabilities in the UK and Ireland as it adds the sites to its portfolio of utility-scale commercial and industrial sustainable projects.
For Amarenco, the agreement strengthens its position in the sustainable energy sector. Owen Power, CEO of Greenvolt Next Ireland and Great Britain, commented: “By integrating state-of-the-art technology, Amarenco will benefit from significant volumes of solar energy, allowing the company to take the lead in green energy.”
As Ireland’s largest county, Amarenco was able to select three separate locations for the farms: the towns of Carrigaline and Cobh, and the village of Timoleague. The first groundbreaking has already taken place, following a “sod turning” ceremony in Carrigaline.
With the combined installed capacity now at 32MW, Amarenco Managing Director Declan Cullinane quantified the scale: “Once completed, they will generate enough clean energy from the sun to power the homes of Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague combined.”
In its commitment to responsible management, Greenvolt emphasizes in their official announcement that the land used for the three solar farms will remain locally owned. Greenvolt explained that this means the land is “secured for future generations to use as they see fit.”
Furthermore, Amarenco has implemented ecological designs into its plans for the farms, with the aim of boosting biodiversity. As such, Amarenco’s ECHO soil health monitoring program will be integrated across the three sites.
As a result, the company will work with local ecologists to examine soil samples. These tests will demonstrate what the country needs to improve its ability to absorb carbon emissions, promote biodiversity and retain valuable water.
Power expanded on the potential national benefits of the upcoming locations: “The development of solar farms of this size provides significant energy security, helping to reduce the impact of energy price volatility while providing stability in terms of business performance.”
Once the three solar parks are operational, Amarenco has promised to establish Community Benefit Funds. These will support Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague with local community initiatives and sporting projects.
