ESB appoint engineering firm to build Lanesboro solar farm

ESB this week announced that they have appointed Voltalia as the main engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the development of Middleton House Solar Farm, located northeast of Lanesboro.

The construction phase of this multi-million euro project is set to kick off in September 2024. Once completed, the solar farm will generate 57MW of clean electricity, enough to power over 15,000 homes.

Middleton House Solar Farm will connect to the electricity network via a new 5km cable route along a disused peat rail line, previously used from the late 1950s until a few years ago to transport peat to a carbon-intensive power station.

ESB’s solar team is transforming this infrastructure to connect clean energy to the national grid, utilizing the existing connection at the former Lough Ree Power Site.

Eoin Naughton, Solar Development Manager at ESB, aid: “Lanesboro has a long and rich history of indigenous electricity generation.

This announcement marks not just the commencement of Middleton House Solar Farm but the revitalization of the midlands as a strategic energy hub as part of Ireland’s clean energy future.Full planning permission has been granted by Longford County Council, and the project was successful in the RESS 2 auction in June 2022.