In Kingscourt, County Cavan, a once-unused landfill site is now generating clean electricity thanks to a powerful partnership between Activ8 Solar Energies, SSE Electricity, and Gyproc Ireland (Saint-Gobain).
The new 2.5MW commercial solar farm features 3,556 Canadian Solar PV panels, each rated at 705 Wp, producing an impressive 2,235 MWh of renewable electricity annually. That’s enough to power 15% of Gyproc’s total electricity needs while avoiding approximately 523 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year
Through a funded Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SSE, the project was delivered with no upfront cost to Gyproc. Activ8 designed and installed the system with a ballasted mounting structure, ensuring the landfill cap remained fully intact while maximising solar generation and long-term performance.
“This project proves that even complex sites can deliver real sustainability gains through innovation and collaboration” Martin Mulholland, Commercial Operations Director of Activ8 Energies.
The Kingscourt solar farm is Saint-Gobain’s first solar installation across the UK and Ireland, marking a significant step in the company’s decarbonisation journey. It stands as a model of how manufacturing facilities can integrate renewable energy on unconventional sites, reducing dependence on grid electricity while advancing national and corporate climate goals.
“What's happened here between SSE, Activ8, and ourselves through a PPA, we've delivered a project in a very difficult environment with a lot of challenges and they've all been worked through and it shows” John Crosse, Supply Chain and Circularity Director at Saint-Gobain.
Behind-the-meter solar farms are still relatively rare globally, but their advantages are significant: direct, cost-stable energy supply, reduced grid dependence, and long-term certainty.
At Activ8 Solar Energies, we’re proud to have delivered this landmark project safely, sustainably, and on schedule. The Kingscourt solar farm not only helps Gyproc Ireland meet its decarbonisation targets but also stands as a testament to Ireland’s growing renewable energy potential.
By combining technical expertise, smart financing, and a shared vision for sustainability, we’ve turned a landfill into a source of clean, dependable power—lighting the way for industries across Ireland to follow.
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