Power Capital Renewable Energy (PCRE) backed by French investor Omnes Capital, has acquired six ready-to-build solar farms from RES.

The company said it will invest €140m into the construction of these projects over the next three years, with solar farms planned in counties Galway, Waterford, Clare and Kildare.

The farms have a combined capacity in excess of 240 MW and brings PCRE's total portfolio of solar farms to over 1.1GW.

"We know RES have a great track record in developing renewable energy projects in Ireland and we hope to do further deals with the RES team in the future," said Justin Brown Co-Founder of PCRE.

"It's a disappointment to think that Ireland still produces so much of its energy in the sunny months from coal and gas, when the alternative is right here, right now," he added.

PCRE said construction on these projects is set to begin in 2022.

It said it plans to submit some of these assets into the upcoming RESS auction and will also continue to seek corporate off takers looking to reduce their CO2 by entering "Power Purchase Agreements"

Meanwhile, Bord Gáis Energy has partnered with Neoen on three solar farms that will provide electricity to the national grid next year.

Under an agreement running until December 2037, Bord Gáis Energy will be the sole offtaker of the electricity produced from facilities in Hortland Co Kildare, Hilltown Co Meath and Millvale Co Wicklow.

The three solar farms are already under construction and Bord Gáis said they will have a capacity of 58MWp, the production of which will be sufficient to power around 12,700 homes annually.

The projects were successful in the first auction of the Irish Government's Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in 2020.

Neoen is an independent producer of exclusively renewable energy with over 4.8 GW of solar, wind and storage capacity in operation or under construction worldwide.

"We’re facing a hugely challenging yet exciting time for Ireland’s energy industry as we look to decarbonize the electricity system," said Dave Kirwan, Managing Director of Bord Gáis Energy.

"This long-term partnership with Neoen will increase the amount of renewable energy supply we can offer our customers," he added.

Bord Gáis Energy's current renewable supply portfolio is in excess of 230MW (wind production), which powers around 73,000 homes.

Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with Obton, powered by Shannon Energy, to manage 118MW of power from 11 solar farms, powering approximately 20,000 homes across Ireland.