Solar-as-a-Service focus on helping businesses harness the power of solar PV panels on their premises.
Flogas has revealed a €50m investment in its new solar energy strategy for Irish businesses.
This initiative is part of Flogas’ parent company DCC plc’s “Cleaner Energy in Your Power” strategy, which focuses on expanding its renewable energy business.
The strategy aims to reduce customer carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and supports DCC’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy practices across Europe, 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 a comprehensive 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, with the added benefit of real-time monitoring. Wewise, will provide tailored financing arrangements, making on-site solar energy accessible to large businesses without upfront costs.
Achieving Ireland’s climate goals
“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.”
Flogas aims to install around 50 megawatts of solar PV capacity across approximately 100 large businesses. This service is particularly suitable for large energy users requiring systems of over 150 kW. Suitable roof or land space on site will be required and reviewed during detailed site survey phase in project.
This move is expected to generate about 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually—enough to power approximately 12,000 Irish homes each year.
The initiative is projected to significantly reduce Irish carbon emissions, with an estimated reduction of 11,000 tonnes annually — supporting Ireland’s renewable energy targets and furthering the country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
“Solar as a Service offers numerous benefits, including zero upfront costs, significant energy savings, reduction in carbon footprints, a single monthly fee, and a service level agreement for the duration of any contract”, said Steven Bray, managing director, Alternative Energy Ireland.
“This model enables businesses to leverage solar energy without the financial burden of purchasing and maintaining the technology.”
The focus on large businesses aligns with the national goal of decarbonising the Irish commercial sector, crucial for meeting the overall reduction in emission targets for 2030 and 2050.
The solar energy market in Ireland is in its early stages of development. 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.
“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 Murphy. “We also hope this project will contribute to Ireland achieving a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 2018 levels, as outlined in the government’s Climate Action Plan.”
Main image at top: Barry Murphy, Energy Services and Renewables Director at Flogas and Steven Bray, Managing Director, Alternative Energy Ireland. Photo: Robbie Reynolds
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