Ireland has awarded contracts to over 1300MW of large-scale renewables projects in its latest RESS auction.
Solar developments totalling 960MW were successful in the round, according to results published today by transmission system operator Eirgrid.
The list of winners includes the 105MW Tullabeg 2 scheme and 100MW Milltown project.
A further 500MW of PV projects were not chosen with the average winning strike price at €104.76 per megawatt-hour.
A total of 374MW of onshore wind was meanwhile successful in the RESS 4 auction.
FuturEnergy Ireland’s 91.2MW Carrownagowan and 139MW Castlebanny projects were among the winners.
The average winning strike price was €90.47.MWh and just 9MW was unsuccessful.
The results are subject to final approve by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan.
He said: “Accelerating delivery of renewable energy will help to protect Irish households and businesses from high fossil fuel prices. To ensure that prices for Irish households and businesses continue to fall in future RESS auctions, we need a stronger pipeline of onshore wind and solar energy projects coming through our planning system and connecting to our grid.
“The provisional results of the fourth onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction will help maximise the volume of renewables connecting to the electricity grid at the lowest cost to the consumer has proven to be a success.
“The average auction price of €96.85 per MWh is lower than both RESS 2 and RESS 3 and the auction has secured a significantly higher volume than RESS 3. The RESS annual auction programme has attracted major international investment into Ireland, creating sustainable employment and delivering for our communities and local economies.”
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “The provisional results of the Government’s auction represent a positive step towards delivering the Climate Action Plan. The wind and solar projects which were successful in today’s auction deserve to be congratulated and will help to decarbonise our energy system.
“These projects are playing their part in Ireland’s energy revolution which will deliver more affordable, clean and secure electricity to our homes, businesses and local communities.”