Tag: decarbonisation

Industrial decarbonisation experts, Astatine, partners with dairy co-op Arrabawn on €3.5m solar installation

Leading dairy co-operative Arrabawn has partnered with Irish industrial decarbonisation specialists, Astatine to install a new solar power system that will supply the Tipperary-based agri business with some 15% of its annual electricity needs.

Based in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Arrabawn is one of Ireland’s biggest dairy co-operatives, collecting and processing more than 500 million litres of milk per year from its network of shareholder farmers. The decision to install solar PV (photovoltaic panels) is part of Arrabawn’s strategy to decarbonise its operation, focussing on reducing scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions.

Following a competitive tender process, Arrabawn selected Astatine as its solar partner. The Dublin-based green energy supplier delivered a full turnkey solution that included project development, planning permission, engineering design as well as construction of the solar installation at Arrabawn’s headquarters in Nenagh.

The project saw Astatine install 9,000 ground-mounted solar panels which have a combined solar installed capacity of 5,800 kilowatts (KW), generating 5,400 megawatt hours per year of clean renewable energy. This will provide Arrabawn with 15% of its annual electricity requirement, offsetting circa. 1,400 tonnes of CO2 per year which is the equivalent of supplying more than 1,200 houses with electricity.

Astatine specialises in helping companies to decarbonise their energy needs through a range of technologies including rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV, thermal batteries as well as industrial heat pumps, and thermal storage that can reduce both carbon emissions and operating costs.

Project fully financed by Astatine

The €3.5 million project was fully financed by Astatine, meaning there was no capital investment on the part of Arrabawn. The renewable energy being generated is supplied to Arrabawn via a long term power purchase agreement (PPA) – at a similar or discounted rate compared to the grid – with Astatine also managing the operation and maintenance of the system for the duration of the PPA.

“We’re delighted to have been selected by Arrabawn to install and maintain a solar PV system that will help to future-proof the company’s energy needs and put the company on a more sustainable footing,” said Tom Marren, CEO of Astatine.

“Agriculture accounts for a significant portion of Ireland’s carbon emissions and the low-hanging fruit are the large, centralised processing plants like the Arrabawn facility here in Nenagh,” Mr. Marren said. “Installing solar PV or heat pump technology into this type of facility is the equivalent of decarbonising hundreds of individual farms and can put a huge dent in the agri sector’s overall emissions.”

“We look forward to supplying Arrabawn and other agri businesses with clean, renewable, low-cost electricity for many years to come and we’re proud to be playing a part in Ireland’s vital decarbonisation journey,” Mr Marren said.

Arrabawn recently announced a proposed merger with Tipperary Co-op to form Arrabawn Tipperary Co-operative Society, pending regulatory approvals which will be owned and controlled by over 4,800 members with more than 1,400 farmers supplying almost 750 million litres of milk annually.

“Like all dairy co-operatives in Ireland and around the world, two of our biggest challenges are reducing costs and reducing carbon emissions,” said Conor Ryan, CEO of Arrabawn.

“Having already installed a heat pump at our Nenagh facility, the addition of solar PV takes us to the next level in terms of ensuring our future supply of clean, renewable, energy,” Mr. Ryan said. “The fact that the project involved no upfront capital investment and was fully financed by Astatine also made it attractive to our shareholders as we look to a more sustainable future.”

Enterprise Ireland Approves Over €55 Million in Funding to Drive Decarbonisation in Irish Businesses

Enterprise Ireland (EI) has approved over €55 million in funding to support the decarbonisation of Irish businesses. Approved under the Environmental Aid scheme and EI’s Green Transition Fund, the funding has benefited more than 400 Irish companies since June 2022, reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 130,000 tonnes. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also allocated a further €300 million in June this year under the Environmental Aid scheme to support EI’s broader commitment to advancing sustainable growth among Irish companies.

These figures were announced as more than 500 industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts attend Enterprise Ireland’s inaugural Sustainable Enterprise Summit, which is taking place today, 5 November, in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in Dublin 8.

Ireland’s commitment to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and a 51% reduction by 2030, requires decisive action within the enterprise sector, with a 35% reduction in on-site industrial emissions required by 2030.

EI client companies that qualify as large industrial emitters (those regulated by the EU Emissions Trading System – “EU ETS”) have already made significant reductions, with support from this funding. Since 2021, these companies have reduced emissions by 13%, which indicates good progress towards the 2030 target.

The inaugural Sustainable Enterprise Summit marks a significant step forward in supporting Irish businesses to meet national climate targets and transition to a sustainable future. The summit will spotlight how Irish companies can integrate sustainability into their core strategies, thereby enhancing competitiveness while addressing the global demand for greener, climate-resilient products and services.

Jenny Melia, Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland, said: “With over €55 million in funding approved to date, we are enabling businesses of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, harness cost savings, and position themselves at the forefront of the low-carbon economy. We’ve made significant strides in helping companies adopt more sustainable practices, but as we look toward our ambitious 2030 and 2050 targets, we recognise there is more to do. Enterprise Ireland will continue to strengthen its support for businesses on this journey over the coming years, enabling companies to turn sustainability from a challenge into a competitive advantage.”

Minister of Trade Promotion, Digital & Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD highlighted his Department’s ongoing commitment to supporting businesses on their decarbonisation journey: “Decarbonisation is no longer optional; it’s essential for resilience in today’s competitive landscape. By supporting businesses in their transition, we’re ensuring that Irish companies not only meet climate targets but also thrive in a decarbonising world.”

The Sustainable Enterprise Summit will highlight success stories from Irish companies who have leveraged sustainability as a growth opportunity and will offer practical insights and support mechanisms to aid businesses in their journey toward a sustainable, competitive future.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry leaders as well as a several Irish companies, ranging from start-ups to SMEs and multinationals, with contributions from leading Irish companies including Diageo, Dairygold, Techrete, Aerogen, Watershed, Portwest, Version1, and Carbery.

Irish businesses are most likely to be on the path to decarbonisation

Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting service provider, today announces the results of global research, which found that 90% of businesses in Ireland say that they have clear plans to meet their decarbonisation targets. The study found that organisations in Ireland are more likely than all other countries surveyed – the US, UK, Germany and France – to be pursuing their green agenda with a clear plan.

The research, which included a survey of 111 business and IT leaders in Ireland, found that despite having clear plans to meet their decarbonisation targets, businesses in Ireland are not there yet. Some 89% believe that their organisation could do more to make their IT infrastructure and projects more environmentally friendly. But with the accelerated uptake of new digital technologies, many are struggling to understand how digitalisation is impacting their environmental footprint. In fact, 90% of senior business and IT leaders say they need to do better to understand the environmental impact of using more digital systems.

Despite this significant knowledge gap, the research, published in Expleo’s Business Transformation Index 2022 Ireland Report, suggests that organisations are starting to realise how technology can be used to support their sustainability efforts. Almost one-third (30%) of businesses in Ireland will use digital transformation to become more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Many businesses are prepared to dedicate a significant portion of their IT budgets to becoming more sustainable. Almost half (42%) of businesses in Ireland plan to spend more than 10% of their 2022 tech budgets making their IT more sustainable. Just 2% of organisations will not use any of their tech budgets to make their IT more sustainable.

Phil Codd, Managing Director, Expleo Ireland said: “Our research shows that Ireland’s business community recognises its role in tackling the climate crisis and there is now a hyper-focus on the need for action. It is promising to see that business leaders are making significant investments in improving the efficiency of their IT infrastructure. We are moving beyond lip service and are now seeing real, meaningful action.

“Digital transformation is proving to not only be good for business but good for the planet. Over the last two years, enterprises have embraced digital technologies to ensure business growth and survival. And while there are some concerns around the environmental footprint of embracing digital, we have seen how the adoption of cloud-based applications, or innovations that use energy more efficiently, have had a positive impact on reducing carbon outputs.

“Increasingly, we will see businesses turn to technology to innovate and improve efficiencies, with sustainability at the core. And while now, businesses are dedicating a proportion of their IT budgets to sustainability efforts, we will soon be at the point where IT and sustainability are intertwined.”