Case Study: Ireland’s Largest Solar Farm, Ballymacarney

Over the last decade, JBM Solar has played a major role in the development and delivery of solar energy projects across the Republic of Ireland. The near-200MWp Ballymacarney solar project in Meath, brings together four separate planning consents and will be Ireland’s largest solar farm.

Solar delivery

Three of the four projects originated – and received planning consent – under JBM. These were, Ballymacarney (56MWp), Fidorfe (68MWp), and Kilsallaghan  (30MWp). Kisallaghan plays host to the first electricity pole that was erected in the Irish rural electrification project in 1946. Forming an integral component of the future energy in Ireland, the four combined projects expand on this legacy. The site will be networked and connected to a bespoke 110kV substation at Ballymacarney.

Get connected

The grid connection was sourced and secured by JBM in 2018. The bespoke 100kV substation  is accompanied with a 160MVA transformer. Following completion of the energisation and testing of the substation, construction of Ireland’s largest solar farm began in the summer of 2022.

Net zero

Ireland’s largest solar farm would not have been possible without the development of the 326MWp portfolio of solar projects created by JBM. The projects were sold to Statkraft in November 2019, and have since secured a contract in the Ireland’s first ever Renewable Energy Support Scheme, paving the way for construction to begin.

The creation and delivery of such a large project in eastern Ireland will play a leading role in helping to meet Ireland’s legally binding CO2 reduction targets and the pursuit of net zero emissions.