Energy company SSE has secured contracts in Ireland's latest T-4 capacity auction.

The auction is key to the design of the all-island wholesale electricity market. It helps deliver a reliable electricity supply, at the lowest possible cost. The auction is known as a T-4 auction because it secures capacity four years in advance.

SSE secured contracts of 547MW of de-rated electricity generation capacity* for the delivery year, which runs from September 30, 2028 to September 30, 2029.

SSE's thermal business's, Great Island Power Station in County Wexford (345MW) and its smaller peaker plants at Rhode in County Offaly (88MW) and Tawnaghmore in Co. Mayo (89MW), were included in the award.

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At the auction, a total of 5,942MW of capacity agreements were awarded. The agreements awarded auction participants a clearing price of €149,960/MW.

Finlay McCutcheon, Managing Director, SSE Thermal on Ireland's T-4 2028/29 auction, said: "Our flexible generation assets in Ireland continue to play an important role in supporting security of supply and enabling a renewables-led system.

"These contracts will allow them to continue to do so towards the end of the decade, alongside potential new plants being developed by SSE at Tarbert and Platin which would run on sustainable biofuels."

SSE Renewables also secured 11MW of onshore wind capacity. The renewables business also secured a 10-year capacity agreement for the proposed 100MW / 200MWh Derrymeen battery storage project in County Tyrone (14MW).

The project secured an agreement at a clearing price of £150,000/MW. The project is targeting a final investment decision in 2025 for delivery by the end of 2026.

These provisional results are subject to approval by the Regulatory Authorities and are expected to be confirmed this month.

*All volumes include a de-rating factor applied in accordance with the rules set by the System Operators and approved by the Regulatory Authorities.