Michael O'Leary discusses the green transformation of his midlands farm.
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00:00I was very dismissive of solar, you know, and also wind power up until about 10 years
00:04ago.
00:05I mean, A, I didn't think the technology was adequate.
00:08We don't get enough sunshine.
00:09You know, my view is we didn't get enough sunshine in Ireland.
00:11The technology has changed so much in recent years.
00:13The quality of the panels has advanced so much that it's now a credible, I think, and
00:18a realistic opportunity for many Irish farmers.
00:21We've been working with Swift Energy here the last two years.
00:25They advised me on the installation.
00:26So this is one of the new cattle sheds we put up here at Jigglestown.
00:30It houses about 180 cattle every winter.
00:34But we've put up 230 solar panels on the shed, and we are generating about 3,000 euros a
00:40month in, or saving about 3,000 euros a month in electricity.
00:47So it's a phenomenal investment.
00:50The system costs, the installation costs about 190,000, but it has about a five and a half,
00:54six year payback.