Meadhill Solar in Kildorrery, Co. Cork, has become the first project to energise under the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), a milestone ministers say reflects the rapid expansion of solar power across Ireland.

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O'Brien welcomed the development, noting it comes just weeks after Ireland surpassed 3 GW of installed solar capacity.

Supported through SRESS, the 650 kW Meadhill Solar farm was developed by local farmer Sean Keating. The project incorporates sheep grazing beneath and around the panels and is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power 150 nearby homes each year. With SRESS support, it illustrates how farmers can participate in the energy transition while securing a long-term, stable income stream.

SRESS sits alongside the utility-scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and the Microgeneration Support Scheme, providing routes to market for community groups, farmers and businesses and helping to widen participation in renewable generation.

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Minister O'Brien said: "The energisation of Meadhill Solar, the first project under the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Scheme, represents an important part of Ireland's continued solar sector expansion. The project highlights how solar deployment is supported at every scale, and the role that smaller-scale projects can play alongside larger developments in increasing Irelands renewable electricity generation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Solar energy is expanding at an extraordinary pace in Ireland – from rooftop to utility-scale solar generation.

"Over 1 GW of solar capacity has been added so far this year alone, demonstrating the extraordinary pace of growth in the sector. The transition to renewable electricity requires projects of different scales and technologies. Small-scale projects will make an important contribution, allowing community groups, farmers, and businesses to participate in the journey."

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Niall Collins, said: "Microgeneration technologies such as solar provides an opportunity to farmers to generate an additional and diversified income source. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine also supports renewable energy generation through solar PV grants, for roof top solar on farm buildings, as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS)."

Ireland's solar capacity has expanded significantly in recent years, with nearly 3.2 GW now installed, including almost 1.9 GW of utility-scale solar less than five years after the first such farm was energised. More than 200,000 homes have added rooftop panels, many with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants, diversifying the renewable mix alongside onshore wind, which remains the dominant source with over 5 GW connected