Lidl Ireland Invests €1M In Energy-Saving Solar Panels At Eight Stores

Lidl Ireland has announced that it has invested €1 million in the installation of solar panels at eight new and reconstructed stores due to open by the end of 2019.

To kick start its sustainable development plan, the German retailer said it has completed the installation of energy-saving solar panels at one of the stores: its recently opened Nenagh site.

'The newly installed solar panels will produce 120,000 kilowatt hours of energy from a sustainable resource annually which is equivalent to meet the electricity requirements of 28 homes and reduces the store’s carbon output by some 40 tonnes annually,' the group said in a statement.

"Lidl is rooted in communities throughout Ireland and wants to ensure our business is operated in a way that is as sustainable as possible with the least impact possible on the environment," Eamon Fitzgerald, project manager, Lidl Nenagh said.

Sustainability Initiatives

This latest move at its Nenagh store, is part of a range of sustainability initiatives at the newly reconstructed store, which was reopened on 6 September following a six month construction programme to replace its Co.Tipperary outlet's original Lidl store first opened 17 years ago.

"We were very clear in rebuilding the Nenagh store that the replacement to our original store built in 2001 would integrate the latest sustainability innovations that will generate ongoing energy savings," Fitzgerald added.

"The newly installed solar panels will make a big impact in increasing our energy from sustainable resources by generating over 25% of our Nenagh store’s energy needs annually."

The store will also reportedly feature two electric vehicle charging points which customers can use for free while shopping in-store.

Other initiatives include: high performance glass fronted façade to maximise natural daylight entering the building; sensor controlled exterior sun blinds to reduce unwanted heat from the sun; waste heat recovery ventilation systems and LED lighting; high insulation with external cladding; and lighting sensors to conserve energy where it is not required.