Certa powers ahead with deals to deliver €50m of solar energy projects to 100 Irish businesses

Certa, part of DCC plc, has agreed its first two deals as part of a plan to deliver €50 million worth of solar energy projects and 50 megawatts (MW) of solar PV power to 100 large Irish businesses over the next five years through its new Solar as a Service (SaaS) offering.

The new SaaS offering is being delivered by Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI), a leading solar and renewable energy company that Certa acquired in 2023. SaaS enables large Irish businesses to harness the power of rooftop and ground mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels to significantly reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions without any capital investment or maintenance costs.

Jabil, who specialise in the design, development, and commercial scale up of complex and innovative healthcare products for the world’s leading pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies, is the first company in Ireland to avail of the new service in a deal valued at €1.2 million.

The company is installing 3,000 rooftop solar PV panels at its state-of-art premises in Bray, Co. Wicklow where it employs 450 people. The 1.5-megawatt (MW) solar system will generate 1.3-million-kilowatt (kWh) units of renewable solar power annually for the next 25 years. It will reduce 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 178-kilowatt (kWh) solar system will generate 165,000-kilowatt (kWh) units of solar power annually and will reduce carbon emissions by 44 tonnes each year.

Certa will manage the delivery of each new solar energy project through Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI). It has also partnered with Wewise, a sister company within the DCC plc group, 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 costs.

Certa is targeting the installation of around 50 megawatts (MW) of solar PV capacity across 100 Irish businesses over the next five years. This is expected to generate about 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) 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.

Orla Stevens, Managing Director, Certa Ireland said:

“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.”

“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, Alternative Energy Ireland (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”

Certa has agreed a Solar as a Service (SaaS) deal with Jabil valued at €1.2 million. The delivery of the solar energy project includes the installation of 3,000 rooftop solar PV panels at Jabil’s premises in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The 1.5-megawatt (MW) solar system will generate 1.3-kilowatt (kWh) units of renewable power annually and will also reduce carbon emissions by 360 tonnes each year. Pictured at the announcement were Migdo Natal, Industrial Engineering & Facilities Manager at Jabil, and Orla Stevens, Managing Director of Certa Ireland.