Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe (AGP-Europe), a division of Ardagh Group, has launched a new rooftop solar energy installation at its Irvine facility in Scotland.
The plant is now generating renewable electricity on site, which it says will be enough to remove the equivalent of an estimated 356 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
According to Ardagh, the solar panels will supply up to 25% of AGP-Irvine's total electricity demand during the mid-year months.
The facility will continue to procure the remainder of its renewable electricity usage from external sources.
In collaboration with ESB Energy, AGP has equipped the site with a 1.75MWp solar photovoltaic system comprising 3,842 panels.
Installed across two warehouse roofs, the system is projected to produce around 1.584MWh of electricity annually, aiding the production of more than 350 million glass bottles.
AGP-Irvine plant director Graeme Shepherd said: “This solar installation is another step forward in enhancing the sustainability of our operations at Irvine, as well as reducing the amount of electricity we take from the grid. It shows our commitment to decarbonising the glass containers we produce, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and excellence.”
The initiative is part of Ardagh Group's broader strategy to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
In line with this strategy, the company launched solar power installations at its glass and metal production facilities in the Netherlands within the last six months.
Ardagh Group is planning further solar installations across its European sites to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets.
AGP-Europe sustainability director Annelene Ikemann said: “The Irvine installation achieves another step in our decarbonisation strategy. It is one of three AGP-Europe on-site sustainable solar projects that, together, are expected to replace more than 12,000MWh of grid electricity consumption, avoiding the release of approximately 5,000 tons of carbon emissions per year.”
