Dale Farm wants 5-MW PV array at Irish cheese factory

Construction will start in mid-2017 of a 5-MW photovoltaic (PV) system to power cheese production at Dale Farm's site near Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

The company said the solar array will use over 18,000 PV panels, which will be hooked directly to the private network of the Dunmanbridge business. The output is estimated to be enough to meet some 20% of Dale Farm’s electricity needs.

Dublin-headquartered CES Energy is to start working on the project next year.

The scheme will help Dale Farm overcome the electricity shortages in the area, which are currently standing in the way of its growth plans, chief executive Nick Whelan said. The savings generated from the PV system will be reinvested in boosting the efficiency across the company’s processing plants.

Ireland has a 40% renewable energy target for 2020. Currently, wind power is the main green energy source for the country, but a study by KPMG shows significant potential for a solar expansion.

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