SSE Airtricity seals 15-year Power Purchase Agreement for Ireland's largest solar farm

SSE Airtricity has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with renewable energy developer BayWa r.e.for the largest solar farm on the island of Ireland, located at Bann Road, Rasharkin in Co. Antrim.

SSE Airtricity will have the offtake of the renewable energy generated at the 46MW solar farm for a period of 15 years. Through this agreement, the site will deliver enough green energy to power 14,000 homes.

The 194-acre solar farm will also produce enough clean energy from the sun to offset nearly a million tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime. It is the largest solar project developed in Ireland or the UK in 2017, and is the largest ever solar farm developed and energised on the island of Ireland.

The PPA will run for 15 years and represents a further move into the solar power sector for SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s second largest energy utility and leading provider of renewable power. Earlier this year, SSE Airtricity developed a 1,400-panel, 420 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar array on the roof of the Odyssey Complex in Belfast, generating enough renewable energy to offset roughly 200 tonnes of harmful carbon emissions annually.

Peter Lord, Head of SSE Airtricity Market Services, welcomed the new deal with BayWa r.e.:

“We’re delighted to be partnering with BayWa r.e. for a project of this scale and significance. At SSE Airtricity, we have a great deal of capability and experience in energy market trading, which makes us ideally-placed for this type of Power Purchase Agreement.

“This agreement allows the solar farm at Bann Road to deliver clean, green energy for customers, while further securing SSE Airtricity’s proud position as the leading renewable energy provider on the island of Ireland.”

Benedikt Ortmann, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH, said: “While we construct and operate solar parks globally, Bann Road marks our first solar project on the island of Ireland. The market here is in an early stage of development and we expect to see a lot more growth as the island of Ireland seeks to meet an increasing amount of its energy needs from renewable sources.

“It’s very gratifying to have brought this landmark project to fruition and we’re delighted to be working alongside SSE Airtricity in securing the Power Purchase Agreement.”