A new venture is to see €30m being invested in solar energy here.

The ESB and Irish-owned Harmony Solar have announced the partnership to power over 10% - approximately 230,000 - of Irish homes by 2030.

The utility and company are to develop ground-mounted solar projects in Ireland.

Phase one will develop Harmony Solar’s existing 300MW portfolio - primarily in Wexford and Kildare - with further phases to develop a total portfolio of over 1,000MW of large-scale solar projects.

It will see an initial capital investment of €30m, with further investment in the medium to long-term.

Solar energy is a key part of ESB’s Brighter Future strategy, which seeks to shift electricity generation away from fossil fuels by developing renewable projects of scale.

Harmony Solar chairman, John McEneaney, said: "We are looking forward to working together and we are confident that this partnership will further add to our ability to deliver solar power to even more Irish homes in the future."

Jim Dollard, executive director of ESB generation and trading, added: "This agreement with Harmony Solar represents another significant milestone, bolstering the company’s solar portfolio and our wider ambition in developing renewable electricity generation projects of scale."

Currently in Ireland, renewable energy is predominately generated from on-shore wind.

The ESB says this partnership is in line with the Irish Government’s policy to introduce more diversity into the country’s renewable energy portfolio.

"The agreement will enhance Ireland’s ability to reach future renewable energy targets and contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 360,000 tonnes per year when the development pipeline is fully operational", it adds.