The Fivealley Solar Meitheal has become one of Ireland’s most inspiring examples of community-led renewable energy in action. Delivered through a collaboration between Fivealley Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), BnM, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI), the project demonstrates how local communities can work together to reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy.
Located in Fivealley, Co. Offaly, the initiative successfully completed its first phase with the installation of more than 700 solar panels across 57 households. The systems were supplied and installed by Alternative Energy Ireland, helping participating homeowners take greater control of their energy usage while contributing to Ireland’s wider climate goals.
What is a Solar Meitheal?
The word “Meitheal” comes from an old Irish tradition of neighbours coming together to help each other complete large tasks. In a modern renewable energy context, a Solar Meitheal brings homeowners together to collectively organise and purchase solar PV systems.
According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), this collaborative approach helps communities:
- Secure better value through group purchasing
- Simplify the installation process
- Increase access to renewable energy technologies
- Build stronger local engagement around sustainability initiatives
The Fivealley project embraced this model at a significant scale, becoming the largest solar meitheal initiative in Ireland to date.
Delivering real results for homes and communities
The impact of the Fivealley Solar Meitheal goes far beyond panel numbers. The installed systems are expected to generate approximately 270,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually while reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 75 tonnes every year.
Participating households are projected to save more than €75,000 collectively on annual energy bills, averaging approximately €1,300 per home each year.
The initiative was supported through funding from BnM’s Derrinlough Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and SEAI grants, while the local community itself invested approximately €500,000 into the development of the project.
Alternative Energy Ireland’s role
As the installation partner for the project, Alternative Energy Ireland delivered and fitted the solar PV systems across participating homes.
Established in 2007, AEI is one of Ireland’s longest-established solar specialists, with extensive experience in the industry. For a project like Fivealley, where consistency, coordination, and quality installation standards were critical, having an experienced installation partner played a key role in ensuring the successful rollout of systems across dozens of homes within the community.
A blueprint for Ireland’s renewable future
The success of the Fivealley Solar Meitheal highlights the growing importance of community-driven sustainability projects in Ireland’s energy transition.
SEAI has increasingly encouraged Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) to adopt collaborative renewable initiatives that empower local residents while supporting national climate targets. Projects like Fivealley show how communities can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve energy resilience, and make renewable technologies more accessible to households.
Importantly, the project also demonstrates how renewable energy can create tangible, immediate benefits for communities. Not only environmentally, but financially as well.
As Ireland continues to scale up renewable energy adoption, the Fivealley Solar Meitheal stands as a practical and proven example of what can be achieved when communities, public bodies, and experienced renewable energy providers work together toward a shared goal.
