Sanofi
Powering Sanofi’s operations: 4MW Ground Mounted Solar Farm
THE COMPANY
Sanofi, a commitment to improving people’s lives and delivering attractive growth
Sanofi Waterford is a significant manufacturing facility located in Waterford City in the Southeast of Ireland. Established in 2001, it serves as a key hub in Sanofi’s global network with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology. Sanofi is an R&D driven; AI Powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth.
The facility operates 24/7 and has been audited by leading regulatory bodies worldwide, maintaining an excellent quality and compliance track record. The site’s operational excellence is grounded in best practices and continuous improvement processes.
Sanofi partnered with Greenvolt Next to deploy a 4 MW ground-mounted solar farm to power part of its operations, accelerating its journey to decarbonisation and renewable-energy self-sufficiency. The project reflects Sanofi’s commitment to renewable electricity and carbon-neutral operations.
THE PROJECT
A 4 MW Ground-mounted solar farm
Greenvolt Next designed and delivered the 4 MW Ground-mounted solar farm, comprising more than 5,700 panels and 10 inverters. The installation will generate approximately 3.2 GWh of renewable electricity annually, covering around 20% of the site’s energy needs and enabling the avoidance of 950 tonnes of CO₂ each year. This reduction in carbon emissions directly supports Sanofi’s global environmental strategy, while demonstrating the Waterford site’s leadership in climate action within the Irish pharmaceutical sector.
Key numbers that
speak for themselves
20
%
Annual energy offset
4
MWp
Capacity installed
950
tons
CO2 avoided
5,700
panels
THE CHALLENGE
A reliable and scalable renewable energy solution
Sanofi needed a reliable, scalable renewable energy solution to:
Advance towards its corporate climate goals (for example: net-zero or significant reduction in Scope 2 emissions).
Reduce exposure to electricity price volatility and future carbon regulation risks.
Demonstrate sustainability leadership within the pharmaceutical / industrial sector by integrating renewable energy at scale.
A ground-mounted solar farm was selected as the recommended solution as rooftop or small-scale PV systems alone would not achieve the needed scale to make a material impact, especially given the significant electricity consumption typical for a pharmaceutical facility. The 4 MW scale targets a meaningful share of consumption while remaining logistically and technically feasible on available land.
SOLUTIONS
A tailored solution to meet Sanofi’s needs
Technical Solution
Deployed a 4MW ground mounted solar farm
Integrated with Sanofi energy management system to optimise renewable energy usage on site
Financial Solution
Financed, built and maintained by Greenevolt Next Ireland in a 20 year long term PPA
This model enables Sanofi to achieve sustainability and cost savings with zero upfront investment
A zero upfront investment for Sanofi
A key enabler of the project is a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Sanofi and Greenvolt Next. Under this arrangement, Sanofi purchases the renewable electricity generated by the 4 MW solar farm at a stable, predictable rate, protecting the business from future energy-price volatility and carbon-cost exposure. The PPA ensures guaranteed offtake for the solar asset while allowing Sanofi to secure clean, locally generated power without the need for upfront capital investment. This model provides both financial certainty and measurable sustainability benefits, supporting Sanofi’s broader decarbonisation commitments and long-term energy strategy.
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
To ensure Sanofi solar system runs smoothly and safely for the incoming years, Greenvolt Next will provide comprehensive O&M services:
20 year maintenance contract
Continuous system performance monitoring
Panel cleaning programmes
Thermographic Inspections
THE RESULTS
Delivering strong, measurable outcomes for Sanofi
The 4 MW ground-mounted solar farm delivers strong, measurable outcomes for Sanofi, supporting both operational performance and long-term sustainability targets.
The system produces 3.2GW of clean electricity annually, directly supplying Sanofi’s facility and reducing dependence on grid electricity. This represents 20% of the site’s annual electricity consumption, meaningfully reducing exposure to energy price volatility.
By replacing grid electricity with on-site solar generation, the solar farm helps avoid approximately 950 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year.
This reduction contributes directly to Sanofi’s global decarbonisation commitments and enhances the transparency of its Scope 2 reporting.
The project demonstrates Sanofi’s leadership in environmental performance within the pharmaceutical sector. It strengthens the company’s position across:
Stakeholder engagement, including with employees, regulators, and investors
ESG ratings
Corporate sustainability disclosures
”It is so important that we strive to continue developing smart energy solutions at community level. Such local investments in renewable energy are particularly important in the context of our national commitments and climate targets. It sets a precedent for others to follow, having one of the largest renewable installations of this kind in the heart of our city "
Mary ButlerMinister of State
LOOKING AHEAD
Performance monitoring & reporting: Once commissioned, Greenvolt Next Ireland and Sanofi will monitor output (kWh), CO₂ avoided, and share performance data, demonstrating the real-world impact and contributing to transparency in sustainability reporting.
Potential scaling: Depending on electricity demand and land availability, there is scope to expand capacity, or replicate the model at other Sanofi sites.
Complementary measures: Consider pairing the solar farm with energy storage (battery), energy efficiency upgrades, or demand-side management to increase the share of renewable energy used on-site and maximize value.
