Webinar Recap: The Cost of Renewables – Challenges & Solutions for Solar
- Priscila Mc Geehan
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
As Ireland pushes forward in its clean energy transition, the conversation around costs in solar development is more relevant than ever. On 3rd March, ISEA brought together leading experts to explore the complex drivers behind renewable energy costs and to identify practical steps we can take to bring them down—without compromising on quality, sustainability, or impact.
The session was hosted by Conall Bolger, CEO of ISEA, and featured deep insights from industry experts on the frontlines of development, grid integration, and environmental planning.
Featured Speakers
Declan Cullinane (Amarenco): Managing Director of Amarenco and Chair of the ISEA BoardDeclan set the stage with a sharp overview of the core cost drivers in solar, including financing, grid access, planning delays, and regulatory complexity. He emphasised that while costs remain a challenge, policy and permitting reform could unlock major efficiencies, making solar more scalable and economically viable.
Ciaran Farrell (Natural Power): Director of Consulting – Europe & Country Director – IrelandCiaran brought a broad environmental engineering perspective to the discussion, highlighting the complexity of planning and environmental assessment processes. He stressed the importance of streamlining procedures, investing in expertise, and improving clarity in planning policy to reduce uncertainty and delays.
Laura Mehigan (Ørsted): Grid Services ManagerLaura delivered key insights on the interplay between solar development and grid capacity, drawing on her experience across EirGrid, MaREI, and now Ørsted. She discussed how technical grid constraints—especially in high-potential solar regions—are adding cost and complexity, and how early engagement and future-oriented grid planning are essential to overcome them.
Key Takeaways
✅ Policy Matters: Supportive regulation and streamlined permitting processes are critical to managing project costs.
✅ Grid Bottlenecks = Financial Pressure: Grid delays and uncertainty drive up costs and risk, underscoring the need for smarter planning and transparent connection timelines.
✅ Planning Reform Needed: Environmental and planning processes are often disjointed or under-resourced. Improving them could significantly reduce soft costs and development timelines.
✅ Long-Term View: Reducing costs today makes solar more investable—accelerating Ireland’s energy transition while delivering long-term social and economic benefits.
Missed the webinar?
The live Q&A at the end of the session brought forward excellent questions from attendees, make sure to watch the full session below.
Let’s keep working to make solar energy more affordable, more accessible, and more effective in delivering a cleaner future for all.
Want to join future ISEA live webinars? Visit our events page or contact us about becoming a member.
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