JV Tierney and Company Consulting Engineers engaged Cool Air Ltd to install the 400 PV solar panels across 13,000sqft of the building’s roof between June and August this year. However, the PV solar panels only began contributing to the hotel’s energy use last month after being commissioned by the ESB.
Cool Air estimates that the installation of PV solar energy infrastructure will cut the hotel’s annual emissions by more than 47 metric tonnes of Co2. In terms of the reduction in atmospheric carbon, the total is the equivalent of planting 1,869 new trees every year.
While the PV solar panels contribute less during the winter months, it is estimated that solar energy will make up 35-45% of the hotel’s overall usage during the April to September period. The average contribution across the year is projected to be more than 20%, leading to an annual saving of €25,000 on the hotel’s energy bills.
The PV solar panels are the latest measure introduced by the hotel’s management to reduce the impact of the facility’s operations on the environment.
Earlier this year, Sligo Park Hotel opened a bug hotel and willow dome on its grounds with aim of providing nesting sites for insects and other wildlife and educating young guests about the vital role of pollinators in the local ecosystem.
Indeed, the hotel’s efforts to boost biodiversity and reduce emissions were also officially recognised in July when senior managers were presented with an Eco-Label Award from the Green Hospitality Programme for the implementation of its sustainability initiative.
Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a range of ambitious targets for the expansion of renewable energy in response to the fact that energy generation accounts for the largest proportion of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the ESB, solar energy is the fastest growing renewable power source in Ireland. During the summer months, solar energy can account for as much as 10% of the electricity produced across the country.
Sligo Park Hotel Director/General Manager Gerard Moore hailed the hotel’s “significant capital investment” in the solar panel infrastructure.
He said: “We are delighted that our significant capital investment in solar panel infrastructure is paying dividends in terms of contributing to our energy usage and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Hospitality is an energy intensive industry. That’s why we are always exploring ways in which we can reduce the impact of the Sligo Park on the environment, whether that’s through the reduction of emissions by installing solar panels or facilitating the local eco-system’s rich and diverse biodiversity through the provision of bug hotels and willow domes. Our focus is not only on the here and now, but also on ensuring the future is viable for generations to come.”
