The first auction (RESS-1) of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was successfully completed in July 2020. Provisional results were shared by auction operator, EirGrid, on Tuesday 4 August. Almost 800 megawatts (MW) of solar projects were successful with an average strike price of €72.92 per megawatt hour (MWh). Elgin Energy is delighted to announce that two of their solar projects were successful.
Goresbridge is a 4MW project in Kilkenny and Gorey is a 4MW project in Wexford. Once energised, these projects will supply more than 2,000 homes or 3,500 electric vehicles with clean electricity annually and offset more than 3,000 tonnes of carbon every year. These projects will also provide community benefit funds for neighbouring communities. To assist with management of these funds and to ensure best practice, a national community benefits register will be established alongside a good practice principles handbook.
RESS has been in development for five years. Minister Alex White first proposed the scheme in the 2015 White Paper “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015 – 2030.” Shortly before leaving office in 2018, Minister Denis Naughten published the high level design for RESS. During his tenure, Minister Richard Bruton made further progress with an industry consultation and following this the terms and conditions for the first auction were released. Finally, Minister Eamon Ryan oversaw the first auction in July 2020 which was overseen and administered by state transmission operator EirGrid.
Elgin Energy has been developing solar projects in Ireland since 2015 and has secured planning permission for 23 projects / 140MW to date. They will continue to develop their portfolio in Ireland looking towards further auctions for project delivery. Strong and progressive leadership from the Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport will be integral to the delivery of future auctions. Elgin Energy looks forward to delivering its projects in conjunction with ESB Networks and its EPC partners over the coming years.
The final auction results will be released on 10 September and successful projects will be notified of contract award dates on 25 September 2020. You can view the full list of provisional results here.
