Ireland has officially opened the 108 megawatt-peak (MWp) Timahoe North solar farm in County Kildare, marking the first completed project under a joint solar development agreement between state-owned Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and Bord na Móna (BnM), government and company officials said.
The site, which began operations in early 2025, is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes. It forms part of a broader collaboration between ESB and BnM aimed at delivering up to 500MW of solar energy across the Midlands region.
“This project makes a significant contribution to the agreement between both organisations to bring more renewable electricity, in the form of solar, to communities right across the country,” said Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Darragh O’Brien during the inauguration. “For the Midlands region, it is yet another example of how this part of the country can support Ireland as a whole to achieve its ambitious climate targets.”
The project supports Ireland’s national target of generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, in line with EU climate commitments.
ESB chief executive Paddy Hayes said the Timahoe North site highlights the growing role of solar in Ireland’s energy system. “This successful investment will deliver low carbon electricity for homes, farms and businesses for many years to come,” he said.
BnM chief executive Tom Donnellan called the project a “milestone” in the company’s wider renewable energy strategy, which includes a pipeline of up to 5 gigawatts (GW) in solar, wind, biomass, and biogas projects.
Delivered with support from contractors including Voltalia, H&MV Engineering, S&G Solar and Wills Bros Group, the solar farm also includes a community benefit fund. The fund will support social, environmental and cultural initiatives in the surrounding area.
Ireland has accelerated its investment in clean energy infrastructure in recent years, with solar now playing a more prominent role alongside wind in the country’s renewables portfolio.
