MSD and ESB launch Ireland’s largest self-generation solar project
MSD, one of Ireland’s leading healthcare companies, announced the opening of its new ground mounted solar PV array at Ballydine, County Tipperary, which is Ireland’s largest behind-the-meter solar project.
MSD Ballydine, working with ESB’s Smart Energy Services, has built a 7.3MW ground mounted solar PV array to support the site in significantly reducing its carbon footprint, in line with MSD’s ambitious climate goals.
Supporting the build, ESB’s Smart Energy Services has delivered a “turn-key” solar photovoltaic power plant. Under the agreement, ESB’s Smart Energy Services has provided the up-front capital required to build, operate, and maintain the solar PV system, while MSD will pay for the power generated by the solar array through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) over the next 20 years.
It is estimated that the system will generate approximately 7.9GWh of clean renewable electricity for the MSD site, ensuring up to 20% of the site’s energy requirements are now coming from renewable energy sources.
The solar farm will enable MSD Ireland to reduce its carbon footprint by 2,336 tonnes every year. This will equate to a carbon offset over the lifetime of the project (20 years) of nearly 47,000 tonnes of CO2. The annual CO2 reduction from the solar PV is equivalent to over 865,000 litres of Diesel. This carbon saving is the equivalent to removing 1,200 diesel cars from Irish roads.
Speaking about the launch of the project, Mairead McCaul, Managing Director MSD Human Health and Head of MSD Ireland Country Leadership Team, said:
“At MSD Ireland, we’re delighted to announce the launch of our new solar project at Ballydine, which is now providing us with a sustainable source of energy and helping us to meet our climate goals here in Ireland. ”
Pat Fenlon, Executive Director, Customer Solutions at ESB said:
“Through our €75 million Smart Energy Services Fund, we are helping organisations such as MSD Ireland deliver critical energy solutions that deliver significant financial and environmental benefits. Delivering Ireland’s largest behind-the-meter solar project is another milestone for our business division, and we are proud to work with MSD Ireland on their ambitious sustainability efforts.”
