Irish electricity utility ESB is planning to invest heavily in solar energy over the next five years.
The firm has issued a contract notice looking for services to help with the installation of up to 30 commercial-scale, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) farms over the next five years.
The installed capacity of the solar farms would be between 5 MW and 20 MW, with a total of up to 100 MW being developed by 2021, ESB said. It added that there could be potential for up to 500 MW of PV capacity to be developed.
State-owned ESB said that the sites would be in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on ESB sites or leased land. It is seeking EPC suppliers and has asked interested parties to submit expressions of interest by May 9, 2016.
There are currently no commercial-scale solar farms in Ireland, although several developers have plans to build new sites.
Amarenco is planning to build more than 30 solar farms in the south and south-east of Ireland, while Lightsource Renewable Energy has also said it will invest millions of euros in Ireland over the next few years.
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