Construction starts on Aurivo 5MW solar farm in Roscommon
Construction has begun on a solar development at Aurivo's Ballaghaderreen facility in Co. Roscommon.
The project will run under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and carried out by VERDE Energy Group, the Irish renewable energy specialist backed by Octopus Energy Generation.
Once operational, the 5MW ground-mounted solar farm will generate clean electricity for the Ballaghaderreen site, reducing Aurivo's reliance on grid electricity, lowering carbon emissions, and providing greater long-term energy cost certainty.
The project represents an investment of over €5 million, and will comprise of 7,784 solar panels.
It is expected to generate 4.7kWh of renewable electricity annually, offsetting around 1,053 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
‘Transition to renewable’
Paul Martin, CEO of VERDE Energy Group, said: "This project demonstrates how Irish businesses can accelerate their transition to renewable energy through innovative financing models.
"Aurivo has shown strong leadership by investing in a cleaner, more resilient energy future, and we are delighted to partner with them on a project of this scale.
"Power Purchase Agreements remove one of the biggest barriers to renewable energy adoption by eliminating the need for significant upfront capital investment.
"Businesses can benefit immediately from locally generated renewable electricity, greater energy price certainty, and lower carbon emissions."
Beyond the Ballaghaderreen solar farm, VERDE Energy Group is also delivering additional energy infrastructure projects across a number of Aurivo sites, supporting the co-operative's wider energy strategy.
Marty Dervin, project manager at Aurivo, said: "Sustainability is central to Aurivo's long-term strategy, and this project reflects our commitment to reducing our environmental impact while strengthening the resilience of our operations.
"Working with VERDE Energy Group has enabled us to deliver a substantial renewable energy project through a flexible commercial model that aligns with our operational and financial objectives.”
He added that the Ballaghaderreen solar farm will play an important role in reducing both carbon footprint and exposure to future energy price volatility.
"This is another important step in Aurivo's sustainability journey and demonstrates our commitment to supporting a lower-carbon future for our members, customers and the communities we serve," he said.
