Tirlán turns sod on solar farm to power largest production facility
Tirlán, the Irish farmer-owned food and nutrition co-operative, has commenced work on a major renewable energy project at its multi-purpose integrated dairy processing facility in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny. The 6.5 hectare, 8 MWp ground-mounted solar farm is being delivered in partnership with ESB’s Smart Energy Services and is expected to be completed in early 2026. It will reduce the site’s carbon footprint and its reliance on grid electricity.
The solar farm will be a “behind-the-meter” self-generation project, meaning all energy produced will be consumed directly at the Ballyragget facility. Once operational, it will supply approximately 7.6 GWh of clean renewable energy annually, meeting 34% of the site’s imported electricity needs. That is the equivalent of powering over 1,700 households with electricity for a year.
Commenting on the significant renewable energy project, Tirlán’s Chairperson John Murphy said: “This investment is a key milestone in our journey to further decarbonise our operations and strengthen energy resilience at our largest processing site. 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. In addition, there has been a strong uptake of ‘turn-key’ solar packages on-farm to help suppliers reduce both their carbon emissions and cost through our FarmGen programme.”
The solar array will consist of 12,816 photovoltaic panels and 32 inverters and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint by 2,100 tonnes of CO₂ annually – approximately equivalent to removing 450 diesel cars from Irish roads or planting 94,000 evergreen trees. Over its 25-year lifespan, the project will avoid approximately 50,000 tonnes of CO₂.
“We’re proud to partner with Tirlán on this landmark solar project, which demonstrates the power of collaboration in accelerating progress toward Net Zero,” said Ciaran Gallagher, Head of Smart Energy Services at ESB. “By enabling projects like this solar farm in Ballyragget to generate clean electricity, we’re helping to reduce emissions and enhance energy resilience at scale. This project is a shining example of how Irish industry can lead the way in renewable energy innovation. We’re committed to supporting Tirlán in delivering a future-focused solution that not only cuts carbon emissions but also strengthens operational sustainability.”
Tirlán’s Chief ESG Officer Lisa Koep, said Tirlán was continuing to actively explore other renewable electricity options for its facilities as part of its wider Living Proof sustainability strategy and as part of its commitment to helping Ireland decarbonise. “Tirlán continues to focus on reducing emissions as part of its sustainability strategy, with a number of significant projects completed to minimise heat loss and recovery in manufacturing facilities. 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.”
The project is being delivered in partnership with ESB’s Smart Energy Services, with contractor Grange Solar beginning work on the site in the coming weeks.
Tirlán’s Ballyragget processing facility is one of the largest multi-purpose integrated dairy plants in Europe. The site employs over 360 people, processing up to 1.2 billion litres of milk, 1.3 billion litres of whey and up to 200 million litres of cream annually. Over €180 million has been invested during the last decade in developing and enhancing the site, which has been operational for more than 50 years.
Using modern-day technology and applying the best processes to its milk pool of three billion litres and an outstanding grains portfolio, Tirlán now exports innovative products and tailored ingredients solutions to more than 95 countries. The group employs over 2,300 people to manage its network of 11 processing plants, 52 Farmlife and Countrylife retail branches and online trading platforms,
ESB’s Smart Energy Services offers a range of sustainable solutions to reduce energy costs and lower carbon emissions for large businesses. ESB’s Smart Energy Services has already delivered projects for more than 300 large businesses across Ireland and the UK. Their list of clients includes Tesco, ABP Food Group, Ardagh Group, MSD, and the Dublin Airport Authority, among many others.
CAPTION:
Pictured (L-R): Paul Moloney, Customer Solutions Manager ESB SES; John Finlay, Utilities Excellence & Sustainability Manager, Tirlán; Lisa Koep, Chief ESG Officer, Tirlán; John Murphy, Tirlán Chairperson; Colm O’Callaghan, Customer Solutions Manager, ESB SES; Jim O’Neill, Chief Operating & Consumer Officer, Tirlán; Alan Kealy, Delivery Team Manager, ESB SES; and Mark Power, Site Manager Tirlán Ballyragget.
