Greenvolt Next, part of the Greenvolt Group, today announced an agreement with Cork Airport to develop Ireland’s largest solar car park.
The project will have 1.7 MW of capacity, will consist of 3,696 panels and should generate around 1.5 GWh per year, which is equivalent to 20% of the airport’s electrical needs.
The work will be carried out in two stages: the first will be completed in the first half of this year and the second will begin in September, with completion scheduled for August 2027.
The investment has financial support from the Irish Transport and Climate, Environment and Energy departments, including more than two million from the Regional Airports Sustainability Program.
The signing of the contract took place in the presence of ministers Darragh O’Brien and Jerry Buttimer, and was formalized by Niall MacCarthy, from Cork Airport, and John Carty, from Greenvolt Next Ireland and the United Kingdom.
João Manso Neto, CEO of the Greenvolt Group, states that “this agreement with Cork Airport demonstrates that the aviation sector, particularly in ground operations, can decarbonize and can do so using existing infrastructure. In addition to the environmental benefits, this solution allows us to reduce costs, gain predictability and increase energy autonomy”, he concludes.
Minister Darragh O’Brien highlighted public support for the project, which he considers “a crucial investment to reduce emissions and adapt infrastructure to climate change”.
Jerry Buttimer added that regional airports are key to economic development and that this type of investment promotes sustainable practices and strengthens connections with international markets.
In addition to producing renewable energy and reducing CO₂ emissions (impact on Scope 2), the project aims to reduce energy costs and increase operational efficiency through local energy production.
In 2025, Cork Airport recorded a record 3.46 million passengers, making it Ireland’s fastest growing airport.
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