Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary has invested over €140,000 in installing solar panels and 90kW of batteries at his 2,000ac Gigginstown estate outside Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

The 231-panel system is “one of the country’s biggest agri-solar installations”, capable of generating up to 100,000kWh of electricity a year, according to O’Leary.

During the summer months, O’Leary said he is generating 70% of the electricity consumed across the farm and house, and is exporting around 30% of it back into the grid.

The solar panels have been installed on a new shed roof, the Ryanair CEO said. “We’re here in north Westmeath, it’s not the Costa del Sol, and yet we are generating remarkable amounts of power,” he added.

O’Leary said state grants for solar panels should be fast-tracked to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint, and that grants should be delivered at the time of installation.

“We’ve had to wait several months after installation to receive the grant – I can afford to do that – but I think the government needs to do more to fast-forward that for smaller farmers, which I think would convert a lot more to solar,” he said.

Solar panels

Financially, O’Leary said, the combined savings amount to over €3,000 a month since the project was completed in June, while “the entire system will have fully paid for itself in just over five years”.

The solar PV installation has seen Gigginstown become energy self-sufficient between 7a.m and 11p.m from late spring to early autumn, co-founder of Swyft Energy, Adrian Casey said.

Electricity storage will be “particularly beneficial” during winter, when sheds must be lit up to house O’Leary’s 600 Aberdeen Angus cattle, according to Casey.