SSE is a leading generator of renewables and flexible energy. Most widely known for serving 750,000 energy customers through SSE Airtricity, it has been investing in Ireland for over two decades. Whilst its roots are in Scotland, the FTSE 100 energy company has built a diverse portfolio of assets across the all-island Single Electricity Market, adding to Ireland’s critical energy infrastructure.
And it has plans to invest much more.
SSE has a fully funded investment plan which will see it invest almost €1 billion in Ireland by 2027, with plans to invest up to €2 billion this decade, or more if the policy environment allows.
Across its group of businesses in Ireland SSE has capital projects in the works which will spur electricity generation, providing long-term solutions to the challenges of national energy security, affordability and climate change.
“Our vision is to be a leading energy company in a net zero world, and our footprint in Ireland is key to getting there,” says SSE chief financial officer, Barry O’Regan, commenting on SSE investments in Ireland. “Our investment plan is a clear reflection of our commitment to the Irish market. It is exciting to reflect on the projects we have delivered this year, as well as the ones we have in development.”
Such projects include Lenalea Wind Farm in Donegal, the newest SSE operated wind farm in Ireland. This joint venture between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland came into full operation last December delivering 30MW of installed power to the Irish grid and contributing to Ireland’s onshore wind targets. The development is a part of SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland’s co-development portfolio of planned onshore wind projects which also consists of Drumnahough Wind Farm in Donegal, and Glenora and Sheskin South wind farms in Mayo, along with Cummeennabuddoge, Inse Mhór and Gort Uí Rathaile wind farms in counties Cork and Kerry.
SSE Renewables is also in the latter stage of construction on its wholly owned Yellow River Wind Farm in Offaly. Once fully operational in early 2025, it will boast 29-turbines and an installed capacity of more than 100MW.
SSE’s onshore pipeline was further bolstered earlier this year when SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna announced a partnership that will target the delivery of up to 800MW of new onshore wind energy for Ireland, marking one of the largest onshore renewable energy joint ventures in the history of the state.
SSE Renewables is also focused on delivering the 800MW Arklow Bank Wind Park 2, an offshore wind project which can make a vital contribution to Ireland’s 2030 climate action target. A planning application for the project was submitted earlier this summer, and SSE is currently awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála.
Investing in flexibility
“Harnessing Ireland’s natural resources is essential. Our position as an island with plentiful wind and sea means we have some of the best renewable resources in the world. But when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, we need back up. We simply can’t ignore the critical role flexible power plays in energy security. That’s why SSE is stepping up to the challenge and delivering the next generation of lower carbon power stations as a part of our investment plan,” O’Regan continues.
In 2015, SSE Thermal opened Great Island Power Station, one of the largest and most efficient gas powered plants in Ireland. Almost a decade in operation, the site continues to be essential in supporting security of supply and can generate enough power to supply approximately eight per cent of peak demand.
Looking to the future, SSE Thermal is currently developing two new power stations which are designed to run on 100 per cent sustainable biofuels. This includes a station being developed at Platin in Meath as well as another plant located at SSE’s historic Tarbert site in Kerry, both of which are subject to planning and final investment decisions. These plants will be capable of converting to hydrogen in the future once appropriate policy mechanisms and infrastructure are in place.
Investing in people
“Building infrastructure doesn’t happen in a silo. At SSE, we know we have to bring people along the journey with us. Whether it’s fostering skilled workers, making it easier for our customers to make greener choices, or investing back into the communities that are home to our projects, people are at the centre of all that we do,” explains O’Regan.
SSE is able to unlock energy resources and investment because of its highly skilled workforce, and track record in delivery of market-leading energy infrastructure.
It directly employs 1,300 people across the island of Ireland. Between graduates, office-based and skilled specialists, SSE continues to invest in the people required to deliver Ireland’s energy future. More broadly, 3,270 jobs across Ireland were supported directly or indirectly by SSE last year – demonstrating the impact of its developments across the country.
Investing in customers
When it comes to customers, SSE Airtricity delivers value and greener choices for customers each day, which can be seen through the range of services it offers such as smart electricity plans and its Generation Green Home Upgrade retrofit programme.
It is supporting the retrofit of an additional 45,000 homes in Ireland over the next 10 years, with around 4,000 upgrades already completed. These works will drastically reduce carbon emissions from thousands of homes, saving an estimated €20 million on energy costs for consumers and making their homes warmer, healthier, and safer.
SSE is also making it easier for people to charge their electric vehicles (EVs). This summer, it opened its first Irish charging facility at Lough Sheever Corporate Park in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The 10-bay facility is part of a broader plan to build 300 ultra-rapid EV charging hubs powered by traceable, renewable energy in Ireland and the UK in the next five years.
Investing in communities
SSE businesses have a long history supporting communities across Ireland through its community benefit funds. SSE Renewables has been investing in Irish communities for over twenty years, contributing a total of €12.3m to communities since 2004 when its first ever community benefit fund, the Corneen Community Fund in Cavan, was launched. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, SSE Renewables’ community benefit funds have donated over £4m since 2008.
SSE Airtricity recently launched the Generation Green Community Fund. This new €5m fund will support communities working to enhance biodiversity, cleaner and more efficient energy usage and sustainability-focused education and awareness in cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoods, urban and rural, across the island of Ireland. The investment is part of SSE Airtricity’s commitment to create a more sustainable future for everyone, aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and its mission to support communities, homeowners and businesses on the journey to a net zero future.
“Ultimately SSE’s investment plan centres around taking action, because at the end of the day that’s what’s required to deliver the infrastructure needed to decarbonise Ireland. We look forward to working with partners, policymakers, customers and communities across Ireland in the years to come to deliver on our vision,” says O’Regan.
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