Cork solar farm becomes first under State renewables scheme
Flogas Energy managing director Ken O’Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Niall Collins, and Meadhill Solar Farm farmer and project manager Sean Keating at Meadhill Solar Farm in Kildorrery. Picture: Daragh MacSweeney.
A Cork solar farm has become the first project in Ireland to operate under the Government's Small Scale Renewable Energy Support Scheme (SRESS).
The 650kW facility at Meadstown, Kildorrery, features more than 1,000 solar panels across 1.5 acres and generates enough electricity to power around 150 homes each year. The site also continues to be used for sheep grazing beneath the panels.
The project was independently developed by farmer Sean Keating and installed by PV Generation.
Under a 15-year power purchase agreement, Flogas will provide a long-term route to market for the electricity generated by the solar farm.
Ken O’Byrne, managing director of Flogas Energy, said the Meadhill solar farm shows how a long-term power purchase agreement "can help a farmer led renewable project move from an idea on paper to a fully operational asset".
“Our role is to provide the commercial certainty that gives projects like this a route to market and helps unlock the investment needed to bring them forward.“
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