Golf Club Solar Panel Installation

Location

Galway

System size

10kWp

Solar Panels

Background

Loughrea Golf Club faced many challenges throughout the years.

This 18-hole parkland golf course is located just outside Loughrea town, Co. Galway.

The course remains open year-round and the club offers comprehensive facilities including a bar, restaurant, changing facilities and a function room for events.

Golf Club Solar Panel Installation Video Preview Image showing Loughrea Golf Club representative, Adrian Callanan, in foreground with golf course behind.

"It was a drastic increase."
- Adrian Callanan, Golf Club Solar Installation Customer

The Challenge

In 2021, the club faced severe energy cost challenges due to external factors:

Electricity costs skyrocketed from 16-17 cents per unit to 70 cents per unit – a sudden increase of ~337%.
Annual electricity consumption was approx. 28,000 units, which was unsustainably high with the increased energy costs.
Rising operational costs overall threatened the club’s future.
They needed to maintain quality facilities despite cost pressures.

Golf Club Solar Panel Installation Tee Off Image showing solar panels on the clubhouse to the right and the golf course to the left.

“Back around 2021, just when COVID was happening and the war in Ukraine, energy prices, as everybody knows, went through the roof,” explains Adrian Callanan from Loughrea Golf Club.

Speaking about cutting costs, Adrian noted: “We looked at everything.”

"One of the most obvious ones…was to try and generate our own electricity through solar panels."
- Adrian Callanan, Golf Club Solar Installation Customer

The Solar Solution

Loughrea Golf Club partnered with Ohk energy after a detailed consultation, which included a needs assessment, site survey, grant discussions and savings estimates.

"Ohk energy came out to us and ran through everything in detail, explained the process and the savings that could be made."
- Adrian Callanan, Golf Club Solar Installation Customer

A bespoke system was then proposed.

The golf club solar panel installation included:

10kW commercial solar system.
28 tier-1 roof-mounted solar panels.
High efficiency inverter and market leading system components.
Full system performance monitoring app.
Workmanship and product warranties along with grant management.

The golf club solar installation was optimised for the club’s facilities and energy usage.

“We looked at the maximum system that we could put up, which was 10kW”, Adrian notes.

Ultimately, the system was designed to offset approximately one-third of the club’s annual electricity consumption, targeting significant long-term savings.

Golf Club Solar Panel Installation Clubhouse Roof Image showing 28 solar panels on the roof in the foreground and the golf course in the background.

The Results

The solar installation has delivered excellent results for the golf club, including:

Approximately 33% reduction in electricity bills.
On track for complete system payback within 4 years.
Longer-term financial benefits after payback period.
Protection against energy price volatility.

Regarding the savings estimates and the overall solar system, Adrian notes: “In the first year, it generated probably 20 units less than the 10,000. So it was very accurate and we’re very happy with it.”

"Our payback will probably be about four years, and it's like getting a grant every year then with the savings we're making on electricity."
- Adrian Callanan, Golf Club Solar Installation Customer

Ultimately, this golf club solar system delivered lower energy bills immediately and a more sustainable future, not just in terms of environmental impact but also club operations.