French renewable energy developer Neoen has announced plans to proceed (NTP) with the construction of two 195 MWp solar PV projects in Ireland.
The projects include the 162 MWp Garr Solar Farm in County Offaly and the 33 MWp Johnstown North Solar Farm in County Wicklow, both of which were awarded contracts in 2024 under Ireland’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 4) auction.
Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) responsibilities are divided between Omexom, which will supply the solar panels and associated infrastructure, and TLI Group, which will provide the substations and grid connections on site.
According to the company, Garr Solar is the first project in County Offaly and will be one of the largest solar installations in Ireland. The project will be connected to EirGrid’s transmission network and is expected to be operational in 2029.
Meanwhile, Johnstown North Solar Farm in County Wicklow, Neoen’s third project in the region, will be connected to ESB Networks’ distribution network. The 33MWp project is expected to come online in 2028.
Xavier Barbaro, Group CEO of Neoen, said: “As electricity demand grows in Ireland, we are proud to contribute a further 195 MWp of solar capacity and play our part in easing long-term pressure on energy prices. These projects further demonstrate our commitment to Ireland’s energy sovereignty and to accelerating the energy transition.”
The latest NTPs bring Neoen’s total capacity in Ireland to 410 MW of wind and solar power, both operating and under construction, almost doubling its footprint in the country. The existing portfolio includes three operational solar parks with a total of 58 MWp, two additional RESS 2 award-winning solar projects under construction with a combined capacity of 104 MWp, including the Threecastles solar power plant of 21.7 MWp. The company currently has a 1.8 GW development pipeline in Ireland, which includes solar, onshore wind and battery storage.
