The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and Bord Gáis Energy have launched a new partnership to offer solar energy solutions to Irish farmers.

The IFA and Bord Gáis are responding to demand from fathers for renewable energy solutions for environmental benefits and to tackle rising input costs.

The organisations previously undertook a pilot project to establish the commercial feasibility of the installation of roof top solar technology on Irish farms.

The pilot involved farmers from different sectors, of different sizes and geographies to establish the benefits of solar for all farmers involved.

The bodies said the pilot demonstrated the support they could provide to help maximise the benefits of rooftop solar for farmers and identified the barriers to entry as well as ways to overcome them.

In Association with

"Our partnership with Bord Gáis Energy will provide a reliable and affordable solar solution. As the largest energy services business in Ireland, BGE has the technical and engineering capacity to deliver high class solar solutions for farmers," said James Kelly, director of organisation at the IFA.

"Each farm is unique and we will provide a comprehensive renewables offering for farmers including a detailed assessment of the viability, design and installation of a rooftop solar.

"We will also provide guidance on available supports, expected system performance, payback periods and ongoing support in the form of data analysis to help farmers on this journey.”

Teresa Purtill, director of services and solutions at Bord Gáis Energy, added: “Over the next five years we are committed to becoming the market leading net-zero solutions provider in Ireland and to helping all of our customers transition affordably to a lower carbon future.

"We look forward to developing out further renewable solutions for Irish farmers, both for their businesses and homes, as we continue the journey to net zero.”

Martin Stapleton, chair of IFA Member Services, added: “The current conditions combined with rising energy prices makes it feasible for all farmers across all sectors to avail of solar.

"This is a new technology that farmers are coming to terms with. An installation by IFA and Bord Gáis Energy offers a renewables solution from a trusted and credible partner.”

Bord Gáis Energy and IFA will begin installation in the early spring but encourage interested parties to register interest and request further details.

Brilliant possibilities

Meanwhile, advertising agency Folk Wunderman Thompson has secured a three-year extension to its current contract with Bord Gáis Energy. 

Folk won the Centrica account for Ireland, the UK and the US in 2019. Since then, the Folk office in Dublin has been leading the agency’s ‘Team Nucleus’ for BGE, alongside media buyer Mindshare.

Folk said that as part of the contract extension it will provide strategic and creative services to help reposition Bord Gáis Energy from a company that offers energy to one that provides energy and solutions to its customers.

One of its creative executions for the shifting the brand perception was the ‘Imagine a Better Way’ campaign, which aims to demonstrate that BGE is a brand of “brilliant possibilities”.

Dermot Mulligan, head of marketing at Bord Gáis Energy, commented: “Over the last three years we have collaborated very closely with the creative team who have made a valuable contribution to our strategy of providing energy, services and solutions to customers in a sustainable, simple, and affordable manner.

“This strengthening of our partnership is a recognition of Folk’s deep understanding of our future growth plan and social commitment.”

Laura Daley, managing director at Folk, added: “Cost of living and climate change are hot topics at the moment and as a society we also need to transform our relationship with how we live and interact with our environment.

“Bord Gáis Energy has the solid strategy and purpose to support consumers on that journey, and we are excited to see what lies ahead over the next three years.”

Folk’s scope of work includes strategic planning and the development of brand and tactical communication campaigns across TV, print, online, social and digital media.

Photo (l-r): Martin Stapleton, Teresa Purtill, and James Kelly. (Pic: IFA)