Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary's solar transformation on Westmeath farm

Michael O'Leary discusses the green transformation of his midlands farm.

Transcript

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.