Overview
Gurteen College Farm worked with TEA to reduce electricity costs through a focused package of solar PV and smart lighting upgrades. The project combined practical audit work with a funding-supported delivery model suited to a large campus environment.
The challenge
The college faced an electricity bill of about €6,000 per month and wanted to identify measures that could make a meaningful difference without adding management complexity. The site also needed solutions that suited a busy educational and agricultural setting.
How TEA supported the project
TEA carried out an energy audit to identify where savings could be achieved and supported the funding pathway through the Better Energy Communities scheme. The final package paired solar PV generation with smart LED lighting across main buildings and arenas.
What was delivered
- Energy audit to identify priority opportunities
- Installation of 186 PV panels on the roof of the horse arena
- Smart LED lighting systems across main buildings and arenas
- Funding support linked to SEAI Better Energy Communities
Results and impact
The solar PV system was expected to generate more than 40,000 kWh of electricity each year. The PV investment of €45,000 was expected to save between €7,000 and €8,000 annually, while the wider lighting upgrade supported better control and lower operating costs across the campus.
Client voice
“The ability to have Tipperary Energy Agency project manage the whole project meant that we could conduct a project that was too big for us to project manage ourselves.”
Planning a similar project? TEA can help assess the opportunity, shape the right solution, and support delivery from concept to completion.