Discount retailer Lidl Ireland has completed the installation of energy-saving solar panels at its Birr store, adding a further investment of €130,000 in renewable energy.
The newly installed solar panels, supplied by Cavan-based Kingspan, will produce 120,000-kilowatt hours of energy from a sustainable resource annually.
This is the equivalent of the electricity requirements of 28 homes, and reduces the store’s carbon output by some 40 tonnes per year.
Up to one-quarter of Lidl’s energy requirements at the store will now be generated by solar power.
The investment in Birr is part of an ongoing €1 million commitment by Lidl to install solar panels at eight new and reconstructed stores.
Sustainably Driven
Speaking after switching on the solar panels in Lidl Birr, Eamonn Fitzgerald, Project Manager said that the retailer wants to ensure its business is operated “in a way that is as sustainable as possible”.
“We were very clear when building the Birr store in 2018 that we would integrate the latest sustainability innovations that will generate ongoing energy savings,” Fitzgerald said.
“The newly installed solar panels will make a big impact in increasing our energy from sustainable resources by generating over 25% of our Birr store’s energy needs annually.”
In addition to the solar installations, Lidl also confirmed that it is rolling out recycling bins in store to allow customers to leave unwanted packaging behind.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
