Megawatt Solar Power Projects in Ireland

Here are just three projects of note. As of January 2025, the largest solar farm currently under construction in Ireland is the Clonfad Solar Farm, located in County Westmeath. Developed by Statkraft, this substantial project boasts a capacity of 175 megawatts (MW).

Solar power is going to play a huge role in the future of the Irish energy industry, with at least 8GW of capacity to be delivered by 2030 according to current targets. This will come through multiple pipelines, from small scale self-consumption in rooftop solar on homes, farms, and small businesses, right up to utility scale solar farms.

The company has started work at its first solar farm in Ireland, the 81MW Garreenleen project in Co Carlow. Completion is expected next year. In March, the firm announced it had signed a landowner lease agreement with Cork-based Greenhills farm, one of Ireland's largest dairy farmers, with the goal of using the site for renewable energy generation.

Overseen by the firm Statkraft, this represents one of the largest ongoing solar projects in Ireland. When completed, this massive array of panels is expected to generate enough energy to power up to 40,000 homes. Local communities should likewise be provided with more than 40,000 euros in financial initiatives.

A similar solar energy farm to the one being built by Orsted in Ballinrea, Cork. Photograph: Alan Betson Renewable energy company Orsted has started to build a 55-megawatt (MW) solar farm just outside Cork city, with the project expected to generate enough electricity for 16,000 homes.

Key findings from the report include: A 42.6% increase in Ireland's solar capacity, now reaching 1,185 MW. Large solar farms (>5MW) providing 594 MW, up from 349 MW in 2023. Mini-generation, mainly from businesses and farms, increasing to 26 MW from 5 MW. Microgeneration from domestic rooftops experiencing an 80% rise, reaching 373 MW.