Solar energy project could create 750 construction jobs

A solar energy project fronted by former Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins could create up to 750 construction jobs across the south of the country.

Fri, 03 Oct, 2014 - 01:00

Peter O’Dwyer

Mr Mullins’ solar energy company Amarenco is looking to build up to 15 solar farms across Wexford, Cork, and Kerry in a bid to emulate the firm’s success in France where several similar projects have been completed.

Speaking following the Cork Global Economic Forum, Mr Mullins confirmed to the Irish Examiner that he was in discussions with a number of land owners, spread across county Cork and intends to put a number of the plants into planning stage before the end of November.

“Clearly, the places with the most sunshine in Ireland are on the south coast; across from Wexford, right down through to Kerry and we’ve identified a number of sites right across County Cork and the south coast that we’d like to put forward as options as new solar farms,” said the Amarenco chief executive.

Each farm would sit on about 25 acres, take 14 weeks to build, and employ approximately 50 construction workers over the course of the build.

Each site, Mr Mullins said, would require an investment of €6m.

He also said that a subsidiary would be required from the Government to make solar energy a viable alternative source of energy in Ireland.

The proposed solar farms would provide significant investment in rural communities and help reduce the country’s carbon emissions.

Mr Mullins also emphasised that through the sole use of underground cables to transport the electricity to customers, no pylons would be required.

The project, which would see 75MW produced, would still leave Ireland lagging significantly behind other countries such as France and Germany, however.

“In Britain, they’ve built out over 5,000MW of power; in France there’s another 5,000MW; in Germany they’ve built 35,000MW; and in China this year they’re going to put 10,000MW in; in Ireland we don’t have many megawatts — we’ve probably around zero,” Mr Mullins said.