Seal of approval for SSE Renewables’ first solar project in Ireland
SSE has been granted planning permission for a solar farm located on lands near its existing 18 turbine Richfield Wind Farm at Bridgetown in County Wexford.
The proposed Richfield Solar Farm has been consented for development by Wexford County Council and would be SSE Renewables’ first solar project in Ireland. The company submitted its planning application for the solar development to Wexford County Council in September 2023, following a period of local public consultation.
The development comprises a 21MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) array operating in the townlands of Hooks and Yoletown and will share a grid connection with the existing 27MW Richfield Wind Farm in south Wexford, which has been operational since 2006.
Delivery of the project will be subject to SSE securing an economic route to market, as well as a final investment decision by the company to proceed to construction. Additionally, changes to Ireland’s current grid connection regulations will be required so as to permit the new solar project to dynamically share the current export capacity of the existing wind farm.
Combined wind and solar generation are expected to lead to more productive and resilient energy generation at Richfield. This would result in enhanced renewable energy production from the area at times when the sun is shining in Ireland’s Sunny South East but when the wind isn’t blowing. This would further support efforts to meet Ireland’s target of generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, while the use of shared grid infrastructure will help bring cost efficiencies for energy consumers.
If delivered, the Richfield solar project could increase the typical annual renewables output in the area by around 25 per cent, generating enough additional solar energy to power the equivalent of 4,500 Irish homes* annually. This would be in addition to the wind energy output from the existing wind farm, which already generates enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 18,000 homes annually^.
"Through the Richfield Solar Farm development, SSE Renewables is demonstrating that developing and operating complementary renewable energy technologies beside each other can help maximise land usage and grid capacity, while also supporting the delivery of Ireland’s climate goals.
Garry Brides Senior Project Manager, SSE Renewables
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. We note the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is expected to publish a policy decision on these reforms later this year and we’re ready to work closely with the Regulator, EirGrid and Government to remove any remaining barriers to the delivery of such hybrid connections."
In addition to the renewable energy benefits of the proposed development, it would also help improve biodiversity in the area. Once delivered, SSE Renewables intend to plant 15 per cent of the site area with native woodland species. This will help meet the company’s own Biodiversity Net Gain targets and would be in line with requirements set out in the Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028.
Once completed, Richfield Solar Farm will make an important contribution to the delivery of SSE plc’s fully funded Net Zero Acceleration Programme Plus. This five-year investment plan will see SSE investing over €1bn in Ireland to 2027, or over half a million euro daily, to deliver new renewables and low carbon generation to help address climate change head on.
*4,500 homes powered based on projected installed capacity, typical projected solar load factor of 10%, and typical annual consumption (4,200kWh). Quoted kilos of carbon emissions abated based on projected annual MWh output and latest average CO2 Emissions (0.236g/kWh) in the All-Island Single Electricity Market and published by the CRU in its Fuel Mix Disclosure and CO2 Emissions for 2020, October 2021.
^18,021 total annual homes powered quoted based on installed capacity, typical onshore wind load factor of 32%, typical annual consumption (4,200kWh). * Quoted 17,711 CO2 emissions abated based on typical annual MWh output and latest average CO2 Emissions (0.234g/kWh) in the All-Island Single Electricity Market and published by the CRU in its Fuel Mix Disclosure and CO2 Emissions for 2022, November 2023.