More than 350 national and international delegates, from investors and policymakers to farmers and energy operators, attended the event hosted by Energy Cork to hear about the future of solar photovoltaic (PV) in Ireland.

Energy Cork chair Michael Quirk said solar was part of the solution for the generation of zero-carbon electricity in Ireland.

“The interest in this event no doubt acknowledges the appetite for solar power in Ireland. As well as clean and renewable power, the potential for job creation is also very significant. The possibilities for solar PV are endless – across industry, agri and domestic.

“The recent white paper on energy policy published by the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources acknowledged that solar is part of the solution for the generation of zero-carbon electricity in Ireland,” he said.

ESB Networks recently received almost 300 solar grid applications, with the highest density of applications coming from Co Cork. A “game-changer” for the sector, according to Quirk, has been the significant decrease in cost of solar PV, accelerating the opportunities for the sector.

Solar farms

In 2015, the ESB invited solar PV grid applications for solar farms which they hope to start rolling out by 2016.

Speakers at the conference included John Mullins, chair of Port of Cork and CEO of Amerenco, Thomas Döring of Solar Power Europe, David Maguire from the Irish Solar Energy Association, Ivan Codd from ESB Networks, Eamonn Murtagh from the CER and Rebecca Kelly from BNRG. Robert Goss of Solar Electric Ireland, Philip Bazin of Triodos Bank, Thomas Ryan from the Irish Farmers Association, Martin Howley from SEAI and Cera Slevin of ESB Solar also spoke at the event.

Solar PV has become one of the most dynamic sectors in the European renewables electricity market in recent years. This is due to an increase in demand for clean energy and a sharp decrease in the price of solar PV technology.