Irish Water is reducing the carbon footprint of the Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant

Irish Water is reducing the carbon footprint of the Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant through a sustainable energy pilot project. The Nenagh plant is amongst the first in Ireland to use clean, sustainable solar energy at the plant, reducing energy consumption.

Run in partnership with Tipperary County Council, the pilot project involved installing 118 solar panels on the grounds of the plant. The solar panels will generate 32,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) electricity per year, providing a clean, renewable and secure supply of energy for the plant and reducing carbon emissions by 15 tonnes per year.

Irish Water is reducing the carbon footprint of the Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant

Irish Water’s solar energy project at Nenagh’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Pictured are Stephen Seymour, Head of Capital Programmes, Gerry Robinson, Tipperary County Council and Sean Laffey, Head of Asset Management, Irish Water

Stephen Seymour, Capital Portfolio Delivery Manager with Irish Water says: “Treating wastewater requires a huge amount of energy. In fact Irish Water is one of the largest energy users in the country. We are committed to becoming more sustainable and improving our energy efficiency year on year.

Irish Water is reducing the carbon footprint of the Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant

Irish Water’s solar energy project at Nenagh’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Photo: Oisin McHugh True Media

“We expect this pilot project to show how moving to solar energy and becoming more energy efficient will improve our energy profile, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money.”

The Nenagh plant is one of two Irish Water sites selected to pilot the sustainable energy programme. The second site is in Newcastle West, Co Limerick. Following the success of this pilot programme, Irish Water is undertaking a feasibility study to see how solar energy can be rolled out to water and wastewater treatment plants across the country, with a further 15-20 sites proposed.

The installation works were carried out by Saliis Limited on behalf of Irish Water and were completed in June 2019.

Further information

www.water.ie/renewableenergynenagh

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