Denmark-based green energy company Ørsted has begun construction on its second Irish solar farm in Ballinrea, located between Carrigaline and Cork city.
It is expected the solar farm will be fully operational in 2026 and when finished, the 55MW solar project will have the potential to generate enough electricity to power 16,000 homes.
Ballinrea marks Ørsted's second solar project in Ireland after it started construction of the 81 MW first phase of Garreenleen solar farm in Co Carlow last year.
Ørsted's current solar pipeline stands at over 700 MW, supporting the Government's 8 GW solar energy target by 2030.
TJ Hunter, Vice President Onshore in UK & Ireland at Ørsted, said that if Ireland is to ultimately achieve a green energy future in Ireland, solar is a fundamental piece of the jigsaw.
"We have a strong solar pipeline currently at over 700 MW and we will continue to look at opportunities for solar projects in Ireland to help the Government achieve its target of 8 GW of solar energy target 2030," he added.
He said that 2024 marked Ørsted's biggest ever construction year with 1.5 GW of onshore renewables and 6.7 GW of offshore wind currently in construction across the globe.
"While challenges remain, we are confident we are going in the right direction to create an energy system run on clean, reliable and renewable power," he added.
The company has also increased its presence in Ireland, relocating to a new office space on Albert Quay in Cork city.
The office is Ørsted's onshore headquarters for Europe and employs over 100 people, with the company aiming to increase that headcount in the future.
Ørsted's investment in Ireland has reached €800m, across a mixed portfolio of wind and solar projects.
