Flogas has announced plans to deliver €50m worth of solar energy projects over the next five years to large Irish businesses, which it says will “significantly reduce” energy bills and carbon footprints.
The energy provider said its new Solar as a Service (Saas) will allow businesses to cut costs with rooftop and ground solar panels on their premises, “without any capital investment.”
Flogas aims to install around 50 megawatts (MW) of solar PV capacity across approximately 100 large businesses. This move is expected to generate about 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually, which is enough to power approximately 12,000 Irish homes each year.
The initiative is projected to significantly reduce Irish carbon emissions, Flogas has said, with an estimated reduction of 11,000 tonnes annually.
The strategy, part of an initiative by the energy provider’s parent company DCC, aims to reduce customer carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, in alignment with the EU’s Green Deal target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Flogas is partnering with Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI) and Wewise, both sister companies within the DCC group, to deliver its solar solution for the Irish market.
AEI will manage the installation and ongoing management of the solar PV installations, ensuring they achieve 90% of their expected energy output annually, while Wewise will provide financing arrangements.
“This investment is central to Flogas’ strategy to lead in renewable energy and sustainability across Ireland”, said Barry Murphy, Energy Services and Renewables Director, Flogas .
“It supports our vision of becoming a green energy leader by driving the adoption of Solar as a Service among large businesses, ultimately reducing carbon emissions and energy costs while contributing to Ireland’s climate goals.”
The solar energy market in Ireland is in its early stages of development, Flogas has said, adding that at the end of 2023, Ireland had 700 MW of solar PV installed capacity, with electricity generation from solar PV accounting for only 1.9% of Ireland’s electricity supply.
“Irish Government policies such as the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) provide incentives to boost adoption, but uptake remains constrained – particularly in the commercial sector – by barriers of high initial costs and limited access to capital for upfront investments in renewable energy infrastructure,” the energy provider said.
“Flogas aims to address these barriers, accelerate solar adoption, and support Ireland’s ambitious energy sustainability targets, including generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030,” added Mr Murphy.