• Neoen announces the construction start of 21.7 MWp Threecastles solar farm, located near Blessington, County Wicklow
• Threecastles solar farm was awarded in the Republic of Ireland’s RESS 2 auction in 2022
• Omexom has been appointed as EPC contractor for the solar plant and TLI Group for the construction of the onsite substation and grid connection route
• The solar farm is expected to be operational in the course of 2026
• Including Threecastles, Neoen’s Irish capacity in operation or under construction now reaches over 210 MW

Neoen, one of the world’s leading independent producers of exclusively renewable energy, has provided notice to proceed under EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) turnkey contracts to Omexom for the construction of the Threecastles solar plant and TLI Group for the onsite substation and grid connection route. This opens the process leading to the construction of the solar farm.

Threecastles solar farm will have a capacity of 21.7 MWp. It was successful in Ireland’s RESS 2 auction in 2022 and will benefit from a CfD (Contract for Difference) mechanism valid until 2040. Threecastles will be Neoen’s second solar farm to be constructed in County Wicklow, following the existing Millvale solar farm, operating south of Ashford, which was awarded at RESS 1 and the first ever ground mounted solar farm to be connected to the grid in the Republic of Ireland. Threecastles is expected to be commissioned in the course of 2026. The solar farm will then generate enough energy to power approximatively 4,400 homes, preventing the emission of nearly 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year.

The vegetation maintenance of the power plant will be carried out through sheep grazing therefore continuing agricultural practices on the land. Additionally, several measures will be implemented to improve the biodiversity on site: planting of trees and hedges, bird boxes, bug hotels and ​bio-diversity meadows. Last but not least, Neoen is committed to sharing benefits with the local community, through the creation of a Community Benefit Fund for the local area during the asset’s lifetime.

Adding Threecastles solar farm takes Neoen’s capacity in operation or under construction in Ireland to over 210 MW. This includes one solar farm (79 MWp) currently under construction, as well as three solar farms (totalling 58 MWp) and eight wind farms (totalling 53 MW) in operation. The construction start of Threecastles solar farm also follows Neoen being one of the main winners of the RESS 4 auction in September 2024, with two new solar projects totalling 170 MWp.

Cliona Gormley, Senior Business Development Manager of Neoen Ireland, commented: “It is with great pride that we announce this major milestone for the Threecastles Solar Farm.  We wish to send our sincere gratitude to all the stakeholders involved in the process, in particular to our project landowners for their support and partnership during the development journey.  Solar technology is low lying, low impact and low maintenance, and provides a meaningful contribution to decarbonising our electricity supply here in Ireland. We also look forward to working with the local communities when we launch our Community Benefit Fund for the Project at the operations stage, to spread a positive impact for many years to come in this local area.”