Power Capital Renewable Energy has awarded a contract to French renewables company Voltalia to build, operate and maintain four solar projects in Ireland with a total capacity of 230MW.

The Lysaghtstown plant will be built in County Cork and have a capacity of 131MW. The Tullabeg plant, with 83.9MW, will be located in County Wexford.

The Painestown plant, with 9.3MW of capacity, will be in County Meath and the Beaulieu plant, with 6.6MW, in County Louth.

Voltalia will design and construct the solar projects, then operate and maintain them for 15 years on behalf of Irish independent power producer Power Capital.

Construction on the four projects has now started. The smaller projects will become operational in 2023 and the larger ones in 2024.

The clean electricity they generate will be sold through long-term power purchase agreements within the technology sector.

Power Capital Renewable Energy co-CEOs Justin Brown and Peter Duff stated: “It is great to see the construction of this part of our portfolio of solar farms in Ireland progressing well. We look forward to working with the Voltalia team over the coming years.

“This portfolio of projects should make a significant contribution to Ireland's energy transition and marks a milestone for both companies.”

Power Capital, Voltalia and their contractors are expected to create 400 jobs during construction.

Voltalia CEO Sébastien Clerc stated: “We are delighted to announce this latest construction and maintenance contract in Ireland, our largest. It is our third contract on the island after building and maintaining four other projects for other clients.

“Our leading position will allow us to serve Power Capital and other existing and future clients in this market well.”