Certa has agreed its first two deals as part of a planned €50m investment in solar energy projects over the next five years through its new Solar as a Service offering.
In addition to the €50m of solar energy projects, the DCC subsidiary will also deliver 50WM of solar PV power to 100 large Irish businesses over that ttimeframe.
Certa is offering Solar as a Service through Alternative Energy Ireland, a leading solar and renewable energy company that Certa acquired in 2023. It has also partnered with sister company Wewise to deliver its comprehensive solar solution for the Irish market.
AEI will manage the installation and ongoing maintenance of each new solar energy project to ensure they achieve 90% of their expected energy output annually, with the added benefit of real-time monitoring.
Wewise will provide Irish businesses with tailored financing arrangements for these solar energy projects without upfront cost.
Jabil, which specialises in the design, development, and commercial scale-up of complex and innovative healthcare products, is the first company to avail of the service in a deal valued at €1.2m.
The company is installing 3,000 rooftop solar PV panels at its state-of-the-art premises in Bray, Co Wicklow, where it employs 450 people.
The 1.5MW solar system will generate 1.3m kWh units of renewable solar power annually for the next 25 years, reducing carbon emissions by 360 tonnes each year.
Lindab, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of energy-efficient ventilation systems, building solutions and accessories, is also one of the first Irish companies to avail of Certa’s SaaS offering, having agreed a deal valued at €200,000.
The company is installing 400 rooftop solar PV panels across its three sites in Dublin. The 178kWh solar system will generate 165,000kWh units of solar power annually and will reduce carbon emissions by 44 tonnes each year.
Certa is targeting the installation of around 50MW of solar PV capacity across 100 Irish businesses over the next five years. This is expected to generate about 50GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power approximately 12,000 Irish homes each year.
The initiative is part of DCC plc’s strategy to provide energy that is secure, cleaner and competitive. SaaS supports Ireland’s ambition to realise its climate change targets of generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as well as a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 2018 levels.
“We are delighted to provide our Solar as a Service to Jabil and Lindab and to respond to the growing demand from large commercial businesses in Ireland who are seeking renewable energy solutions that enable them to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions without any capital investment or maintenance costs,” said Orla Stevens, managing director of Certa Ireland.
“Our SaaS model is designed to help businesses adopt solar energy and to overcome the barriers to adoption, including limited access to capital to finance the initial high cost of installing renewable energy infrastructure, and the ongoing financial commitment that is required to maintain the solar power technology.”
Steven Bray, managing director of AEI, said: “Solar as a Service makes it easy for businesses to harness the power of solar energy without the cost of purchasing and maintaining the technology.
“The service includes a single monthly fee and a service level agreement for the duration of the contract. It is a win-win for Irish businesses with the other benefits including significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint”
Photo: Pictured at the announcement were Migdo Natal, Industrial Engineering & Facilities Manager at Jabil, and Orla Stevens, Managing Director of Certa Ireland. (Pic: Sean Brosnan, Brosnan Photography)
