Garreenleen solar farm in County Carlow will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 29,000 homes and brings Perigus Energy’s operational capacity in the island of Ireland to 454 MW.

Cork-headquartered Perigus Energy, formerly Ørsted onshore, has announced that its first Irish solar farm, the 81 MW Garreenleen project in County Carlow, is now fully operational and generating renewable electricity for the Irish grid. The solar farm is located around 15 km from Carlow town and is expected to generate enough green electricity to power the equivalent of 29,000 Irish homes.

The project brings Perigus Energy’s operational capacity across the island of Ireland from 373 MW to 454 MW. The company also has 68 MW of operational capacity across its European markets, including Ireland, the UK, Germany and Spain.

Construction completed in two years

Construction of Garreenleen began in June 2024, following the company’s successful award under the Irish Government’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 3) auction in October 2023.

“It is great to see Garreenleen fully operational,” said TJ Hunter, Managing Director for Ireland and the UK at Perigus Energy. He highlighted the project as an example of the speed at which onshore renewable energy projects can be delivered in Ireland.

According to Hunter, the project also marks an important milestone for Perigus Energy as the company continues to invest in Ireland’s renewable energy infrastructure. He added that solar will play an increasingly important role alongside wind and energy storage in the country’s energy mix.

Biodiversity measures and community fund

Garreenleen also incorporates measures aimed at supporting biodiversity and the surrounding environment. Around 10% of the site has been ringfenced for biodiversity enhancement, while more than 1.2 km of native hedgerows have been planted to provide screening and ecological corridors for local wildlife.

The project will also provide approximately €240,000 per year through a community benefit fund during its operational lifetime. The fund is now open for applications and will support the local community.

Growing solar pipeline

Solar is becoming an increasingly important part of Perigus Energy’s renewable energy portfolio, with the company advancing projects across its markets.

One of its largest proposed developments is the 740 MW One Earth Solar Farm in the UK, which was recently approved by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 200,000 UK homes.