Greenvolt Next completes solar farm for Astellas in Dublin

Greenvolt Next has completed a 2.2MWp ground-mounted solar farm at Astellas's Damastown facility in Dublin, intended to meet 27% of the site's annual electricity demand.

The project includes 3,192 solar panels and five inverters. The system is expected to cut Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 310 tonnes a year.

Greenvolt Next completed the work in four months, managing the project from design through installation and commissioning. It will also provide ongoing maintenance and performance reviews.

The development adds to a growing number of on-site generation projects by industrial and commercial companies seeking to manage electricity costs and reduce reliance on grid supply. In Ireland, corporate interest in solar and other distributed energy systems has increased as businesses weigh energy security, emissions targets and longer-term operating costs.

Astellas said the system was designed to allow for future expansion. Greenvolt Next said the installation can accommodate additional inverters and battery storage if the facility's energy requirements change.

The project also included biodiversity measures at the Damastown site, including bug hotels made from reclaimed tree stumps, bat boxes and native Irish trees.

The solar farm is visible from the site's 1.1km riverwalk, giving employees and visitors a direct view of the installation. The project connects site operations with wider environmental measures rather than focusing solely on electricity generation.

Project timeline

Speed of delivery was a central part of the project. Greenvolt Next said the four-month timetable reflected rising demand from companies seeking rapid delivery of energy projects as market volatility continues to affect planning and procurement.

Greenvolt Next operates in 12 countries as part of the Greenvolt Group and focuses on distributed generation for commercial and industrial customers. In Ireland, the business previously operated as Enerpower and says it has installed and maintained more than 160MW of renewable energy across more than 700 projects.

For Astellas, the Damastown installation forms part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. The company said the project supports its sustainability goals through its business activities.

Owen Power highlighted the delivery timetable and its significance for customers managing energy supply and price uncertainty.

"This solar farm is an impressive feat with our resourceful team completing the design, installation and delivery of over 3,000 solar panels in just four months. The turnaround time for a project of this scale is meaningful and shows how quickly we can implement change-change that gives Astellas more control and more reliability in terms of its energy needs both today and in the future. Making renewable energy easy not only benefits the organisation but also its customers and the environment as a whole, particularly at a time when these factors are becoming increasingly critical amid ongoing volatility and uncertainty in energy markets," said Owen Power, Chief Executive Officer of Greenvolt Next Ireland.

Leon Burns described the project as part of Astellas's efforts to move quickly on environmental measures while maintaining business operations.

"At Astellas, we know that time is of the essence when it comes to taking action. As well as doing the best for patients, we are also committed to doing the best for the world around us-that includes supporting a greener future. In just four months, Greenvolt Next has delivered a solar farm which boosts our sustainability credentials and offers scalability. Underpinned by their resources and expertise, this installation is already making a tangible difference to our business operations," said Burns.