A new 10-acre solar farm is to be used to provide power needs for the Griffin Hotel Group.
The first phase, which cost €750,000, is already operational and providing up to 500 kilowatts of power at peak.
Phase two is in development and will see the rollout of a further 1-megawatt of capacity.
The power will be used in the Griffin Hotel Group properties, including Monart Destination Spa, Hotel Kilkenny and Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford.
The initial phase of the array is located next to the Monart Destination Spa and will offset the hotel's entire electricity demand when at peak generation.
The group intends to complete the second phase within the next year and when finished the peak output of the entire farm will, it is hoped, be enough to power all three hotels.
The investment is part of the group’s long-term sustainability plan, which has been rolling out since 2014.
"This development will move the company in an inspiring way towards reaching its ambition of being a leader in the hospitality sector for real and tangible sustainability results," said Director of Sustainability on the board of Griffin Group, Ken McElhinney.
"Energy is a significant part of our sustainability plan; but at the Griffin Hotel Group, we are also focused on water usage, waste, packaging and transport initiatives."
"We aim for real improvements across all these headings over the next 10 years. We are determined to drive further sustainable results."
Much of the preparatory ground work was carried out at Christmas during a two week period when the hotel was closed, in order to minimise the effects on guests.
"Operating a sustainable business in every sense has always been critically important at the Griffin Hotel Group, for our guests, for our team, for future generations and for the environment," said Michael Griffin, CEO of the group.
"The opportunity to green our entire energy operations has been a much-desired long-term goal, so to be in a position to run the properties using natural resources is a momentous occasion and we are entirely thankful to everyone involved."
