Find lower-risk utility-scale solar opportunities in Ireland with decent grid access.

Second-ranked Cork candidate offers perfect land fit (100) with very low planning risk (2). Grid proximity of 3.08km is moderate but within acceptable parameters. Protected coverage of 1.72% remains low. Cork benefits from south-coast solar irradiance advantage over northern candidates.

Kildare candidate scores 93 with perfect land fit (100) and very low planning risk (4). Grid proximity of 3.12km is marginally worse than Cork. Protected coverage of 4.36%—while still low—represents the highest constraint density among top-three candidates. Kildare's location in Ireland's heartland offers good grid infrastructure access.

Sligo candidate rounds out the set with a score of 93, matching Kildare. Planning risk of 10 is notably higher than southern/eastern candidates. Excellent grid proximity of 1.38km and land fit of 99 compensate. Protected coverage of 10.14% is the highest in the set—warrants scrutiny. Sligo's northwestern location implies lower solar irradiance, affecting project economics.