SSE Renewables unveils hybrid solar plans in Wexford

• The designer plans to develop a co-located PV-battery at its existing operational Richfield Wind Farm

SSE Renewables is introducing a public consultation for a 21MW solar plus 10MW battery storage project in south-east Ireland.

The programmer plans to develop a co-located project at its existing operational Richfield Wind Farm at Bridgetown in County Wexford.

Members of the neighborhood community are being invited to go to a public consultation event on 26 January at the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay in Wexford, to find out even more regarding the proposed development.

SSE Renewables recently launched a fleet-wide assessment of sites where battery storage systems and also solar generation technology could be co-located with existing onshore wind farms.

Co-locating solar and battery technology near each other at wind farm sites has actually been determined as an important action in supporting the production of clean homegrown energy in Ireland and the UK.

Richfield Wind Farm in Wexford has actually functioned since 2006.

The proposed solar farm would be found in the townlands of Hooks as well as Yoletown while the proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) would certainly be co-located adjacent to the existing substation at Richfield Wind Farm.

The development of the project will go through changes in Ireland's current grid connection consenting regime to allow for hybrid technology grid connections to help with co-location of generation sources.

Heather Donald, Onshore Renewables Development and also Construction Director at SSE Renewables, stated: "The proposed development can generate new solar energy for immediate use, while likewise storing surplus renewable resource in a battery storage system for use when it's needed most.

" The result is that this co-location project at Richfield can help export greater levels of renewable energy output to the national grid and contribute to Ireland's target of generating 80% of its power from renewable sources by 2030.

" Innovative projects such as this can really deliver for Ireland's climate goals."

She added that while some regulatory hurdles still require to be overcome to allow for hybrid grid connections, SSE Renewables prepares to work carefully with government and regulatory stakeholders "so that we can eliminate any staying barriers and also support the shipment of important solar and also battery technology projects co-located at wind farm sites".

Following the conclusion of the public consultation, SSE Renewables intends to submit an application for planning permission to Wexford County Council in the spring.