Like many mixed tillage and beef farmers, they were looking for greater certainty. That search eventually led to a partnership with ESB to develop the Carriglong Solar Farm near Tramore, helping secure their farm's future while contributing to Ireland's renewable energy transition.

Today, the 43.6 MW solar farm spans around 135 acres of the family's land.

Raymond O’Regan farms alongside his mother, Fiona; stepfather, Douglas; and two brothers, Andrew and John, at Carriglong, where the family has farmed for generations. After Raymond's father passed away in 2000, Fiona continued to run the farm before leasing it out for several years.

Struggles

"When we took the farm back in 2011, we were struggling to make ends meet," Raymond recalls. "Like many farmers, I was farming while also working elsewhere."

While the land was productive, it didn't provide the financial certainty needed to support future generations.

"There were years where we'd barely break even before taking any wages out of the business," he explains. "Then there'd be a good year, but there was never any certainty. It was the stability we were looking for."

The family’s interest in solar was sparked by a BBC Countryfile feature on a UK farmer who had developed a solar farm.

"Being based in the south-east, we knew our location was well suited to solar generation, so we started looking into it," Raymond recalls.

ESB has been involved since the early stages of the project's development, with construction beginning in 2024.

A long-term investment

For the O’Regan’s, the biggest attraction was the certainty a 35-year lease could provide. The family receives a guaranteed income through leasing the land, while retaining ownership throughout the lease period.

The additional income has enabled Fiona and Douglas to retire, while giving the family greater confidence about the future of the farm.

"The guaranteed income was the biggest factor," Raymond explains. Once the lease comes to an end, agreements are in place to restore the land so it can return to agricultural production.

"That's the beauty of it. We're not selling the land for development. The land is still ours," Raymond explains.

"It'll help ensure Carriglong stays in the O'Regan family. That's something that's very important to us."

Farming alongside solar

Although the solar development occupies around 60% of the family's landholding, the O’Regans continue to farm the remaining land. Rather than replacing agriculture, they see solar as another enterprise on the farm.

The next step is to introduce sheep grazing beneath the panels, allowing the land to remain in agricultural use while generating renewable energy.

"Sheep and solar go hand in hand," Raymond believes. "The land is still producing something for agriculture."

The electricity generated at Carriglong isn't used on the farm itself. Instead, it's fed directly into the Butlerstown substation, helping to power homes in the surrounding area. For the O’Regans, that's an important part of the project, contributing to Ireland's renewable energy transition while demonstrating that farming and clean energy can successfully coexist.

While grazing beneath the panels won't match intensive cropping, they believe the project demonstrates that productive farmland can continue to support both agriculture and renewable energy.

Working with ESB

Developing a large-scale solar project required planning and technical expertise well beyond what they could have managed themselves.

"Once we partnered with ESB, they handled everything," he says. "Their expertise was phenomenal. Planning and development would have been well beyond what we could have managed ourselves."

Communication throughout the project also stood out:

"They were always open and transparent. Any time they needed to carry out site investigations or surveys, they contacted us well in advance. They were always respectful that we were the landowners."

Despite a planning appeal and local concerns during construction, Raymond believes the project was well-managed.

"There was some disruption while construction was happening because of the extra traffic, but ESB handled the traffic management very well," he says. "Overall, the local response has been very positive."

Beyond generating renewable electricity for local homes, the project will also support the wider community through a community benefit fund once it becomes fully operational.

Advice for farmers

For farmers considering solar, Raymond's advice is to understand the commitment before signing any agreement: "Spend time making sure your option and lease agreements are right because it's a long-term commitment. It's worth getting proper advice and making sure you're comfortable with everything."

Based on their experience with ESB, he also recommends choosing an experienced development partner.

"You want to work with a company that's going to be there for the long term. That gives you confidence." Looking back, Raymond has no regrets.

"I'd absolutely make the same decision again. The regular income has eased a lot of pressure. The land is finally delivering a return that reflects its value, while still remaining part of our family farm."

Farmers and landowners interested in learning more about solar opportunities can find further information at esb.ie/solar.