Solar Panels for Cold Storage in Ireland
Cold stores and refrigerated warehouses are the strongest case for commercial solar of any building type in Ireland. Refrigeration compressors run 24/7, giving you the most constant and largest electrical load in commercial property, and the large flat roofs that come with cold storage give you space to cover a big share of it. Because the refrigeration base load is always there in daylight hours, almost every kilowatt-hour a well-sized array makes is self-consumed rather than exported. The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant pays up to €162,600, and companies can also claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance. Compare quotes from installers who work on refrigerated facilities.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Most Irish cold stores and refrigerated warehouses install 50-500 kWp of rooftop solar, sized to their 24/7 refrigeration load. Because compressors run constantly, the daytime base load absorbs almost all generation, so self-consumption is typically 90%+ and the returns are the best of any building type. The SEAI NDMG grant funds up to €162,600, companies can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance, and payback is usually 4-6 years.
Why solar suits cold storage
A cold store has the two things that make solar PV work best: an enormous constant electrical load and a huge unshaded roof. Refrigeration compressors, condenser fans and evaporator fans run around the clock to hold chill or freeze temperatures, so the facility never stops drawing power. That base load is present every daylight hour, which means a well-sized array is almost entirely self-consumed rather than exported, and self-consumption is where the money is.
The load profile is the key. Unlike an office or a shop, a refrigerated warehouse has very little daily variation: the compressors maintain temperature continuously, with extra demand when doors open, stock comes in warm, or ambient temperatures rise. Solar generation through the middle of the day actually coincides with the hottest part of the day, when refrigeration works hardest, so the array and the load track each other closely. There is rarely any surplus to push to the grid at all.
Roof space is rarely the constraint. A modern cold store or distribution chill warehouse gives a large, flat, unshaded roof, far more area than the array you need. That means you can size the system to the refrigeration load rather than to the available roof. For the wider picture across other commercial buildings, see our commercial solar guide.
24/7 refrigeration
Compressors run continuously to hold temperature, the single largest and most constant load in commercial property.
Daytime base load
Demand peaks with ambient heat at midday, exactly when solar generates most, so almost all output is self-consumed.
Large flat roofs
Cold stores have big unshaded roofs, so you can size the array to the load rather than to the available area.
What size solar system does a cold store need?
Most Irish cold stores install between 50 and 500 kWp. The refrigeration base load sets the floor because the compressors run constantly, so you can install a large array and still self-consume nearly all of it. A small chill unit or a modest food-processing facility might need 50–100 kWp, while a large refrigerated distribution warehouse or a blast-freeze operation can justify 250–500 kWp. All of this sits under the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG), and larger arrays may need an ESB Networks NC7 connection and planning permission for the rooftop array.
| Floor Area / Store Volume | Typical System | Panels (approx.) | Annual Generation | Best Grant Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 m² chill | 50–100 kWp | 115–230 | ~43,000–86,000 kWh | SEAI NDMG |
| 1,000–3,000 m² chill/freeze | 100–200 kWp | 230–460 | ~86,000–172,000 kWh | SEAI NDMG |
| 3,000–6,000 m² warehouse | 200–350 kWp | 460–805 | ~172,000–301,000 kWh | SEAI NDMG |
| 6,000 m²+ / blast freeze | 350–500 kWp | 805–1,150 | ~301,000–430,000 kWh | SEAI NDMG |
Generation assumes the average Irish yield of around 860 kWh per kWp per year. Actual figures depend on roof pitch, orientation and shading. A site survey and a year of half-hourly meter data give the accurate sizing. Because refrigeration runs constantly, the base load almost always exceeds even a large array, so very little generation is exported.
Cold storage solar grants, ACA and payback
For cold stores the headline grant is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG). The NDMG funds commercial rooftop solar up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems, with the grant scaling by system size. Cold storage is not an agricultural use, so TAMS does not apply. The NDMG support stacks with the Clean Export Guarantee for any surplus you do export, though on a refrigerated facility there is usually very little surplus because the 24/7 load absorbs the generation.
The grant is the smaller part of the case. The real return on a cold store comes from displacing import. Because refrigeration runs continuously through every daylight hour, self-consumption is typically 90% or higher, so almost every unit you generate avoids buying a unit at the commercial import rate. That is why cold stores see the fastest payback of any building type.
| System | Gross Cost (est.) | Grant Route | Net Cost (est.) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kWp | €40,000–€55,000 | NDMG (€12,000) | €28,000–€43,000 | 4–6 years |
| 100 kWp | €70,000–€100,000 | NDMG (€22,000) | €48,000–€78,000 | 4–6 years |
| 250 kWp | €175,000–€225,000 | NDMG (~€90,000) | €85,000–€135,000 | 4–6 years |
| 500 kWp | €350,000–€450,000 | NDMG (€162,600 max) | €187,400–€287,400 | 5–7 years |
Installed cost runs roughly €700–€900 per kWp at commercial scale, with larger arrays at the lower end per kWp. Figures are estimates for 2026 and exclude battery storage, which is not covered by NDMG. Because cold stores self-consume nearly all generation, batteries are rarely needed.
Accelerated Capital Allowance
Companies operating a cold store can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA), writing off 100% of qualifying solar cost against profits in year one through the Triple-E register. Combined with the NDMG grant, this sharply reduces the after-tax net cost. Check the qualifying equipment list and the available allowance with your accountant.
Where the savings come from
Commercial electricity costs around 22c/kWh to import while exported surplus earns roughly 18c/kWh, so displacing your own refrigeration load is worth more than exporting. With compressors running 24/7, cold stores reach 90%+ self-consumption, the highest of any building type, which is why the payback is the fastest and the annual return is typically in the 15–20% range.
Roof, planning and install specifics for cold stores
The practical details on a refrigerated facility differ from a dry warehouse or office. Plan for these before you commit to a system size.
| Factor | What to check on a cold store |
|---|---|
| Roof structure | Cold store roofs carry deep insulation panels; an installer must confirm the build-up and purlins can take the panel and ballast load, and that fixings do not breach the thermal envelope or vapour barrier. |
| Planning | Rooftop solar on commercial buildings has wider planning exemptions since 2022, but large arrays and any roof-area limits should be checked with the local authority. |
| Load matching | Refrigeration runs 24/7 and peaks with midday heat, so generation is almost fully self-consumed. Sizing to the base load avoids exporting at the lower CEG rate. |
| Grid connection | ESB Networks NC6 covers systems up to 50kW; NC7 covers larger systems up to 200kW, and bigger arrays need a formal connection offer. Inverters must meet EN 50549. |
| Roof access & plant | Condensers and refrigeration plant often sit on the roof; the array layout must work around plant, walkways and maintenance access without shading panels. |
Do cold stores need a battery?
Usually not. Because refrigeration draws power continuously through the day and night, the base load absorbs nearly all of the array output as it is generated, so there is little surplus to store. A battery only earns its keep where you want to shift a small midday excess into the night, but on most cold stores the self-consumption is already 90%+ without one. Spend the budget on a larger array instead.
Cold Storage Solar FAQ
How big a solar system does a cold store need?
Most Irish cold stores and refrigerated warehouses install 50-500 kWp, sized to their 24/7 refrigeration load. A small chill unit or modest food-processing facility needs 50-100 kWp, while a large refrigerated distribution warehouse or blast-freeze operation can justify 250-500 kWp. Because compressors run constantly, the base load absorbs nearly all generation, so you can install a large array and still self-consume almost all of it. Sizing should use a year of half-hourly meter data.
What grant can a cold store get for solar panels?
The headline grant for cold stores is the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG), which funds commercial rooftop solar up to a maximum of €162,600 on large systems, scaling by size. Cold storage is not an agricultural use, so TAMS does not apply. Companies can also claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) to write off 100% of qualifying solar cost against profits in year one.
Why is cold storage the best building type for solar?
Refrigeration compressors run 24/7, giving a cold store the single largest and most constant electrical load of any commercial property. That base load is present every daylight hour, and demand even peaks at midday when ambient heat is highest and solar generates most. The result is 90%+ self-consumption, the highest of any building type, so almost every unit generated displaces an expensive imported unit rather than being exported at a lower rate.
Will a cold store export much solar to the grid?
Very little. Because refrigeration runs continuously, the base load almost always exceeds even a large array, so generation is consumed on site as it is made. This is why cold stores rarely need a battery and why their returns are so strong. Sizing the array to the refrigeration base load keeps export, which earns the lower Clean Export Guarantee rate of around 18c/kWh, close to zero.
What is the payback on solar panels for a cold store?
Payback is typically 4-6 years, the fastest of any building type. A system costs roughly €700-€900 per kWp installed, the NDMG grant funds up to €162,600, and companies can claim the Accelerated Capital Allowance on top. Payback is driven by self-consumption, since displacing import at about 22c/kWh is worth more than exporting at about 18c/kWh, and cold stores reach 90%+ self-consumption.
Related Guides
Commercial Solar
Solar panels for Irish businesses: costs, NDMG grants, and ROI.
Solar for Warehouses
Warehouse solar PV: sizing, NDMG grant, and ROI in Ireland.
Solar for Supermarkets
Supermarket solar: refrigeration load, NDMG grant, payback.
Solar for Factories
Manufacturing solar: high daytime load, sizing, grants, payback.
Sources
- SEAI, Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme (NDMG)
- SEAI, Accelerated Capital Allowance
- ESB Networks, Micro and Small-Scale Generation
Last updated: July 2026
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
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