Blackwater Solar Farm Noticeboard

Infrastructure Map Published

Bord na Móna has published the infrastructure map for the proposed Blackwater Solar Farm development.  The proposed development, for which the company intend to seek planning permission in Summer 2024, comprises a c160MW solar farm on approximately 400 hectares of Blackwater Bog. It is also intended to construct a 110KV onsite substation which will connect, via 2.5km of underground cable, to the national grid at the existing 110KV ESB Networks at West Offaly Power Station for the proposed development.     

The proposed solar farm will include approximately 24km of internal road network, approximately 3.5kms of which is intended for amenity use when the solar farm becomes operational. An additional 2.5km of dedicated amenity pathway and associated carparks is also proposed. 

To view the infrastructure map, please click here.

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The ESB

Electricity Supply Board (ESB) was established in 1927 as a statutory corporation in the Republic of Ireland under the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927. With a holding of 95%, ESB is majority owned by the Irish Government with the remaining 5% held by the trustees of an Employee Share Ownership Plan.

As a strong, diversified, vertically integrated utility, ESB operates right across the electricity market: from generation, through transmission and distribution to supply. In addition, ESB extracts further value at certain points along this chain: supplying gas, using our networks to carry fibre for telecommunications, developing electric vehicle public charging infrastructure and more.

ESB is Ireland's foremost energy company and the largest supplier of renewable electricity in Ireland. Through innovation, expertise and investment, ESB is leading the transition to a low-carbon future in developing a modern, efficient electricity system, capable of delivering sustainable and competitive energy supplies to our customers.

Bord Na Móna

Bord na Móna is an Irish, semi-state climate solutions company helping lead Ireland towards a climate neutral future. Bord na Móna has been serving communities for over 90 years, always rising to meet the needs of the day. It was founded in 1934 as The Turf Development Board to enhance national energy security through peat harvesting and became Bord na Móna in 1946.  Today, we have radically changed our approach to face an even greater challenge ; climate change. We have ended peat harvesting and now focus on developing climate solutions in renewable energy, sustainable waste management, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation.

Ireland has committed to ambitious climate goals and Bord na Móna’s climate solutions are helping to achieve them. Our vision is to help Ireland reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This means helping to remove the same amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere that are released.  To power a net zero future, we are expanding our renewable energy infrastructure. We have been constructing and maintaining large- scale infrastructure for decades. Today, we are using that experience to build renewable energy developments across the country. These developments are transforming the way we generate and consume energy.

Ireland has committed to generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.  We are working across wind, solar, biomass and biogas to help achieve this target and to provide energy security for future generations.