Agriculture Case Study
Kehoe’s Ketripack: Solar PV & Lighting Upgrade
Philip’s targets were to reduce energy costs in their busy farm, guard against energy price increases and reduce their carbon footprint.
Company name: Kehoe Ketripack
Project actions: Installation of a 40.43kWp solar PV system and Lighting Upgrades .
Finance source: Internal
Additional Funding: SEAI BEC 2019 programme
% Funding: 30 %
Grant amount: € 24,255
Total project cost: € 80,850
25-year savings: € 283,503
Simple payback time: 5 years
Kehoe’s Ketripackare an agri-business involved in packing and selling animal feed to agriculture sectors and are based in Lacken New Ross, Co. Wexford. The packing and storage of animal feed products was very energy demanding, with the Ketripack side of the business using 182,913.96KWh of electricity annually. Kehoe’s approached 3cea to attempt to reduce their energy needs, and carbon output. The team at 3 Counties Energy Agency coordinated the entire Better Energy Communities (BEC) application from the initial energy audit, procurement to warranty checks and all required paperwork.
Kehoe’s Ketripack were spending upwards of €2,443 a month on electricity alone. This was from processing, storage, and packaging of their animal feed products. Kehoe’s Ketripack hoped to lower this through the use of greener energy and more efficient lighting. To meet the challenge, 3cea installed 40.43 KWp Solar PV modules orientated southwest with c. 10 degrees inclination and no over shading. They also upgraded the lighting at the facility, installing in total, 103 energy efficient light fittings.
We expect more family farms and other farm enterprises will follow in the footsteps of Kehoe’s Ketripack business and invest in 40.43kWp Solar PV Panel systems to supplement their on-site energy usage under the SEAI Better Energy Communities Program.
Benefits
Reduced carbon footprint by 28.688 tonnes by investing in 40.43KWp Solar PV system and lighting upgrades.
Annual savings of €11,340, the installation of PV panels has led to a reduction in grid imported electricity on the site.
86,566 kWh energy savings, allowing for an investment payback time just under 5 years.
