ESB's Smart Energy Services is proud to announce our partnership with Tirlán on a significant renewable energy project at their multi-purpose integrated dairy processing facility in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny. This collaboration marks a key milestone in our commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions for large businesses.
The 6.5-hectare, 8 MWp ground-mounted solar farm is set for completion by early 2026. This "behind-the-meter" self-generation project will produce approximately 7.6 GWh of clean renewable energy annually, meeting 34% of the Ballyragget facility's imported electricity needs. This is equivalent to powering over 1,700 households for a year.
Commenting on the significant renewable energy project, Tirlán’s Chairperson John Murphy said: “This investment is a key milestone in our journey to further decarbonise our operations and strengthen energy resilience at our largest processing site.”
The solar array, consisting of 12,816 photovoltaic panels and 32 inverters, will significantly reduce the site's carbon footprint by approximately 2,100 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Over its 25-year lifespan, the project will avoid around 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, which is comparable to removing 450 diesel cars from Irish roads or planting 94,000 evergreen trees.
“We’re proud to partner with Tirlán on this landmark solar project, which demonstrates the power of collaboration in accelerating progress toward net zero,” said Ciaran Gallagher, Head of ESB's Smart Energy Services. “By enabling projects like this solar farm in Ballyragget to generate clean electricity, we’re helping to reduce emissions and enhance energy resilience at scale. This project is a shining example of how Irish industry can lead the way in renewable energy innovation. We’re committed to supporting Tirlán in delivering a future-focused solution that not only cuts carbon emissions but also strengthens operational sustainability."
ESB's Smart Energy Services offers large-scale low-carbon energy solutions to reduce emissions and energy usage, leveraging our core engineering and multi-technology expertise.
Our team has successfully delivered projects for over 300 large businesses across Ireland and the UK, including Tesco, ABP Food Group, Ardagh Group, MSD, and the Dublin Airport Authority.
Fast Facts:
- Size: 6.5 hectares
- Capacity: 8 MWp
- Annual Output: ~7.6 million kilowatt hours per year
- Carbon Savings: ~2,100 tonnes CO₂/year
- Completion: Q1 2026
- Impact: Equivalent to 1,700+ homes' average energy consumption annually