Greenvolt Next delivers solar farm for biopharmaceutical firm Sanofi in Waterford

Agreement was structured under a 20-year power purchase agreement

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Pictured: Richard Mackey, Sanofi; Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health Mary Butler; Cian O Brien, Sanofi; and John Carty, Greenvolt Next Ireland

Greenvolt Next has completed the development of a 4MW solar PV plant for biopharmaceutical Sanofi.

Now in operation at Sanofi’s manufacturing campus in Waterford, the project was structured under a power purchase agreement (PPA), requiring no upfront investment from the pharma company and allowing it to access renewable electricity at a stable and predictable price, while benefiting from long-term operational certainty.

Greenvolt Next designed and delivered the 4MW solar PV plant, comprising more than 5,700 panels and 10 inverters. The installation will generate approximately 3.2GWh of renewable electricity annually, covering around 20% of the site’s energy needs and enabling the avoidance of 950 tonnes of CO₂ each year. This reduction in carbon emissions directly supports Sanofi’s global environmental strategy, while demonstrating the Waterford site’s leadership in climate action within the Irish pharmaceutical sector.

Its delivery was completed within a four-month schedule, mobilising a multidisciplinary team of more than 100 professionals across design, engineering and installation. Greenvolt Next will operate and maintain the facility for 20 years, ensuring performance, safety and reliability throughout its lifecycle. The project strengthens the site’s long-term competitiveness, ensuring it can continue to grow, innovate and manufacture high-quality medicines sustainably.

Owen Power, CEO, Greenvolt Next Ireland & UK, said: “This project is particularly meaningful for us, not only because it delivers a direct positive impact for the Waterford community – where Greenvolt Next is also based – but also because it reflects the trust placed in our expertise and execution capabilities by a global company of Sanofi’s scale. We have built a strong track record across multiple industries, including a significant presence in the pharma cluster, which continues to reinforce our leadership in the commercial and industrial renewable energy sector.”

Cian O Brien, site lead, Sanofi, said: “Generating our own renewable energy on-site is vital in helping us meet our sustainability targets, aiming for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 across all scopes, with a trajectory towards carbon neutrality by 2030. With Greenvolt Next Ireland’s expertise in renewable energy installations for large businesses like us, we will be able to significantly reduce our reliance on the grid, generating 20% of our energy on-site each year.”

Greenvolt Next is a pan-European platform operating across 12 countries, specialising in distributed-generation solutions for the commercial and industrial sector. In Ireland, the company has a long-standing presence – formerly Enerpower – and continues to support businesses in their transition toward more efficient and sustainable energy models.

TechCentral Reporters

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