Dawn Meats has invested €1.5 million in a newly completed solar panel project at its Grannagh site in Co. Waterford.

The 18-month project, led by engineering director Tom Hyland, involved the installation of 3,500 solar roof panels covering 8,397m².

The panels will produce 1,560,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power annually, the equivalent of 40% of the yearly electricity usage at the Grannagh site.

The energy generated is enough to power 210 homes for an entire year and is expected to deliver a return on investment in 4.5 years, depending on future electricity unit price rates.

Dawn Meats said that the Grannagh site was deemed suitable for the use of solar panels as its southern location offers optimal sunlight exposure.

It also had available roof space, which meant the project did not require additional planning permission.

The move is part of the company’s wider plans to maximise renewable energy generation at its sites and similar solar facilities are due to be installed at other Dawn Meats plants in Ireland and the UK.

Since 2020, Dawn Meats has sourced 100% renewable energy to power its sites.

With further investment, the company is working towards on-site renewable energy generation across all sites as part of its Plan Four Zero sustainability strategy.

“We are delighted to announce that our solar panels project is now live at the Grannagh site in Co. Waterford," Tom Hyland, engineering director, said.

"This marks a significant milestone in our journey to use sustainable energy and reduce our carbon footprint.

"We plan to replicate the success of this project across our sites in Ireland and the UK in the near future," he added.

Established in Co. Waterford in 1980, Dawn Meats now has annual revenue of around €2.5 billion, employing over 8,000 staff in twelve countries.

Trading as Dunbia in the UK and Dawn Meats in Ireland, the combined businesses process approximately 1 million cattle and 3.5 million sheep annually.