Greenvolt Next wins Cork solar farm contract for Amarenco

Greenvolt Next has won a contract to build three solar farms for Amarenco in County Cork, with a combined planned capacity of 32MW.

The sites are in Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague. Under an engineering, procurement and construction contract, Greenvolt Next will manage construction and delivery across all three locations.

The three solar farms are expected to generate enough electricity each year to power about 38,000 homes. The land will remain in local ownership after development.

The work marks another Irish project for Greenvolt Next, which operates in 12 countries and has an established presence in Ireland through its former Enerpower business. Amarenco, an Irish-founded renewable energy company, employs more than 200 people across Europe and invests in long-term energy infrastructure.

Ecology plans

Alongside the energy project, Amarenco will roll out its ECHO soil health monitoring programme across the three Cork sites. Working with local ecologists, the company will take soil samples and assess what each site needs to support soil regeneration, biodiversity and water retention.

Community benefit funds are also due to be established once the projects are operational, with support intended for local community and sports initiatives in each area.

All three schemes are scheduled for completion by mid-2027. A sod-turning ceremony has already taken place in Carrigaline.

Greenvolt Next is responsible for delivering the project after Amarenco set the requirements. The contract adds to a growing pipeline of solar development in Ireland, where utility-scale projects are advancing alongside broader efforts to strengthen domestic electricity supply.

Owen Power, Chief Executive Officer of Greenvolt Next Ireland and UK, said: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with Amarenco, which will see Greenvolt Next construct three major solar farm sites in Cork. Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology, Amarenco will benefit from significant volumes of solar energy, helping it lead in the green energy space. The development of solar farms of this scale offers greater energy security, helping to reduce the impact of energy price volatility while providing business stability."

The three locations form part of Amarenco's broader renewable energy activity in Europe, where it has delivered more than 2,000 projects. The company said it reached 650MW of installed solar capacity in 2025 and invests more than €500 million annually.

The Cork development also reflects a wider trend among solar developers to combine electricity generation with land management measures intended to improve environmental conditions at project sites. Amarenco said its programme is designed to restore the soil's capacity to absorb carbon emissions while promoting biodiversity.

Declan Cullinane, Managing Director of Amarenco, said: "This is a significant milestone for Amarenco as we move forward with the installation of three large solar farms across our Cork sites in conjunction with Greenvolt Next. Once complete, they will generate enough clean solar energy to power the homes of Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague combined. A project of this scale required a partner with the vision, resources and expertise to complement our capabilities. Together with Greenvolt Next, we will deliver a project that sets a new benchmark for large-scale renewable energy development in Ireland. We look forward to working closely with the communities in each area in the years to come."