The Luxembourg-based Ardagh Group is installing solar PV at several of its packaging production facilities in Europe and the United Kingdom. Its most recent project is a 1.75 MW rooftop system at its glass packing plant in Irvine, Scotland.
Ardagh Group Installs PV Panels on Two of its Facilities
In partnership with Ireland’s ESB Energy, the Ardagh Group has installed 3,842 panels on two warehouse rooftops. Capable of generating 1,584 MWh annually, this array will cover 25% of the electricity needed by the Ardagh Glass Packaging Europe (AGP-Europe) facility, with the rest sourced from renewable energy.
Pat Fenlon, Executive Director of Customer Solutions at ESB Energy, noted that the successful 1.75MWp solar array at Ardagh Irvine demonstrates their ongoing commitment to supporting sustainable and innovative initiatives for clients. He added that continuous monitoring and maintenance ensure peak performance, allowing Ardagh Irvine to focus on its primary goal of reducing carbon emissions.
This initiative is a key part of the Ardagh Group’s goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030. It builds on recent solar installations at its production sites in the Netherlands, and the company plans to expand its AGP solar projects across more European facilities to meet this target.
A Commitment to Sustainability
Graeme Shepherd, director of AGP-Europe’s Irvine plant, emphasized how the solar project supports their sustainability goals by reducing dependence on the power grid.
“This solar installation is a significant step towards improving Irvine’s operational sustainability and lowering its reliance on the grid for electricity. It demonstrates our dedication to decarbonising the glass containers we make while upholding the greatest standards of excellence and quality,” he said.
“The Irvine installation is another accomplishment in our decarbonisation strategy,” stated Annelene Ikemann, Sustainability Director at AGP-Europe. “It is one of three on-site solar projects developed by AGP-Europe that, when combined, are expected to replace more than 12,000 MWh of grid electricity and prevent the release of around 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.”
The Company’s Largest PV Plant
In the Netherlands, Ardagh Group also recently installed solar arrays at its facilities in Dongen, Moerdijk, and Oss. The company reports that the more than 24,700 solar panels across these three locations produce roughly 12,677 MWh annually.
The three plants were developed by Rotterdam-based power provider Eneco and Amsterdam-based Zoncoalitie, an independent solar project adviser that split from a PV industry group in 2020.
Image: Ardagh Group
The largest of the three PV plants in the Netherlands is at the AGP-Europe glass facility in Dongen, with an annual production of 8,000 MWh. The site features a combination of rooftop and ground-mounted panels, with the ground-mount system accounting for most of the installed capacity. The installations at Moerdijk and Oss are both rooftop plants, producing 1,897 MWh and 2,500 MWh annually, respectively.