Ireland's very first large-scale solar farm opens in Wicklow

• The very first large-scale ground mounted solar farm to supply electricity to the Irish grid has actually been opened near Ashford in Co Wicklow as well as is currently operational.

Millvale solar farm integrates 33,600 solar modules covering 25 hectares of land.

It was created by Neoen, a leading independent manufacturer of solely renewable energy, and also has a generation capacity of 8 megawatts of electricity - sufficient to power about 3,600 residences yearly.

It is approximated that the electricity it creates will avoid 4,800 tonnes of greenhouse emissions.

It is the initial of several solar projects to reach commercial operation under the Government's Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.

Formally opening up the solar farm, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme is one of the key policies set out in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan to resolve Ireland's climate challenges over the coming years.

" It supports the development of the green economic situation, produces sustainable work chances and also advantages citizens, as renewable resource becomes more affordable and also changes fossil fuels such as coal as well as peat," he claimed.

" Historically Ireland has had a single reliance on onshore wind for our eco-friendly electricity. With RESS 1 we sought to develop innovation diversity and also to advertise the emerging solar sector in Ireland. I am delighted to see Millvale energise; this is Ireland's very first grid-scale solar project under RESS."

Minister Ryan claimed this was a "essential beginning point" on the plan to install up to 2.5 GW of solar energy on the electricity system by 2030.