Tirlán has commenced work on a 6.5ha (16ac) solar farm project at dairy processing facility in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny.

The 8MWp ground-mounted solar farm is being delivered in partnership with the ESB and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

It will supply 7.6GWh of renewable energy annually directly to the Ballyragget facility, meeting 34% of its imported electricity needs.

Tirlán chair John Murphy said this is a key milestone in decarbonising the processor’s operations and strengthening its energy resilience.

“It builds on the success of solar installations at our Kilkenny soup plant and Tirlán CountryLife Castlecomer retail branch and reflects our commitment to a more sustainable energy mix.”

Specifications

The solar array will consist of 12,816 photovoltaic panels and 32 inverters and over its 25-year lifespan, the project is expected to reduce its carbon footprint by approximately 50,000t of CO2.

Tirlán’s chief ESG officer Lisa Koep added: “As a co-operative, we recognise that delivering solutions to complex environmental challenges requires working together to deliver lasting impact for our planet and our people.”