Solar grant cuts to stall growth of last two years, ISEA warns

Solar may be the darling of Ireland's renewable energy sector, but a move by government could be counterintuitive to its development, writes Cáit Caden

Christophe Desplats Redier, director of Neoen in Europe; Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications; Nicholas Tarrant, managing director of ESB Networks; and Cyril Perrin, managing director of Neoen in Ireland, at Millvale solar farm in Co Wicklow.

Solar energy is the darling of the renewable energy sector in the Republic and has experienced significant growth since the country’s first solar farm, Millvale solar farm near Ashford, in Co Wicklow, was connected to the national grid just two years ago.

One of the major drivers off this growth is that solar panel installations appeal to residential customers, in addition to business customers, through government initiatives and grants.