Ireland awards support contracts for 1.948 GW of solar, wind capacity

Some 1.948 GW of solar and wind capacity were awarded contracts in Ireland's second Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) at an average strike price of Eur97.87/MWh ($103.97/MWh), system operator Eirgrid said in a provisional results document May 20.

The average strike price, payable over approximately 15 years, was 32% higher than RESS 1's Eur74.08/MWh average, when 1.276 GW were awarded in August 2020.

"RESS is a pivotal component of the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2021 and is a major step in achieving Ireland's target of at least 80% renewable electricity by 2030," Eirgrid said.

Hourly wholesale day-ahead prices for delivery May 23 peaked at Eur235.73/MWh for 8:00 am, SEMO px data showed.

Final auction results would be issued June 15 if approved by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, it said.

Some 130 projects participated in the auction, with 80 successful.

In capacity terms solar was dominant with an aggregate 1.534 GW of awards versus 414 MW for onshore wind.

In deemed energy generation, however, the result was more balanced, with awarded solar schemes projected to produce 1.48 TWh and onshore wind 1.27 TWh over the course of the support.

Among the largest successful projects were Bord na Mona's 105-MW Derrinlough Wind Farm in County Offaly and SSE Renewable's 104-MW Yellow River Wind Farm in Leinster.

Meanwhile 100-MW solar farms being developed by Clonfad Solar Ltd and Ballymoneen Project Limited were also successful.