Waterford City and County Council has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing carbon emissions with the new installation of solar panels.

The local authority installed 129 solar Photo Voltaic panels on the southerly facing roof of the machinery yard building in Dungarvan. This supports the Council's aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 51% by 2030.

The panels will supplement the yard's and neighbouring Council depot's electrical requirements and reduce 17 tonnes of CO2 being emitted to the environment, through the elimination of electricity being imported from the electrical grid.

The solar panels were installed by a Dungarvan Engineering company, Solar Evolution, which is working exclusively in the green economy and specialises in solar PV installations.

Brigid Walsh, Project Director with Solar Evolution said: "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Waterford City and County Council at their Dungarvan Council Depot. Their commitment to reducing emissions is matched by our passion to enable this with our design and construction of a roof mounted Solar PV system. We are eagerly anticipating monitoring the projects output and look forward to highlighting its contribution at both social and environmental levels."

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Liam Fleming, Executive Engineer with Waterford City and County Council Environment Department, added: "Solar Evolution is an innovative local company that shares our vision of creating a more sustainable future and a green economy for future generations. The installation of the solar panels here at the depot in Dungarvan is one of many steps that the Council intends to take to transition from a fossil fuel based economy to carbon neutrality through building energy efficiency and renewable energy generation."

Funding of 30% was received from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the Better Energy Communities Scheme to install the solar panels, with the grant funding application being coordinated through 'Three Counties Energy Agency'.

SEAI is working with homeowners, businesses and communities to transform how the public generate and use energy. Other measures being funded by SEAI that have been completed under this year's grant award in Waterford include the installation EV charging points and insulations upgrades at the Depot and community building upgrades.