5mw solar farm helps power Pharma manufacturing plant

About Eli Lilly

Pharma and biotechnology manufacturer Eli Lilly developed the single largest Solar Farm in the Republic of Ireland in a joint venture with Enerpower.  The 16-acre facility will help power a significant proportion of Lilly’s Co Cork manufacturing plant with renewable energy.

The Project

The ground-mounted Solar Farm can produce up to 5.6MW of power, allowing Lilly to reduce its annual use of electricity from carbon sources by almost 6GWH and its carbon footprint by 2,350 tonnes. 

Comprised of 12,600 individual solar panels and costing €5m, the development was a joint investment between Lilly and Enerpower, with Enerpower receiving support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. 

Solar PV design and construction was carried out by Enerpower. PM Group services included electrical, civil and structural design, project management, coordination and execution, and PSDP.

GWH Annual output of the solar farm is equivalent to:

Solution highlights

Lilly already uses a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant that efficiently produces approximately 45% of the site’s electricity. By adding the power generated by the solar farm, the sites electricity needs will be further reduced with approximately 65% provided by the CHP and Solar farm at peak solar output.

The project was delivered in approximately 18 months from feasibility to commissioning during the COVID pandemic restrictions.  It demonstrates the speed at which renewable systems can be deployed and start to reduce energy related greenhouse gas emissions.

Innovation

On-site Solar PV renewable generation is one of the most sustainable ways to reduce fossil fuel generated electricity. The journey to a zero-carbon world will require many actions, and projects like this represent a step forward in the energy transition.