Solar Farm Feasibility At Inchicore Rail Works Assignment

Assignment Task

Capstone Assignment: Feasibility Study on developing and constructing a Solar Farm in Inchicore Rail Works, Dublin 8.

When deciding on what project, where I work or places, I spend my time in to build my final capstone around, I began searching my home, workplace and any other places I frequent as a source of inspiration. I was finding a project that would cover the various components of Industrial Engineering and everything we’ve learnt over the past 11 months. It was only last week, whilst discussing with a work colleague, Dave , and we were discussing the Hybrid train when the conversation turned to solar energy. We both are currently working on retrofitting a conventional diesel train to a Hybrid train, running on diesel and Hybrid batteries. It’s the first of its kind here in Ireland and it’s another way of Ireland is contributing to the fight against global warming. Our conversation ended but the topic of solar energy didn’t leave trail of thought. I decided to do some investigating.

Inchicore railway works in Dublin 8 is my place of work. (Appendix 1). I conducted a brisk walk around the 4 large sheds, located at the back of the rail works in Inchicore, to begin my feasibility study. After using my phones compass to determine the direction of south, the optimum location to install solar panels, I calculated there’s approximately 3200 m² of south facing rooftops on the running shed, with a slope of close to the optimum thirty-degree tilt from the ground below them. I decided, with all the information I collected, that this is a project that covers most of the different aspects of our Industrial Engineering degree.

Irish Rail, being a government owned company, and Ireland’s sole form of rail travel have a vested interest and responsibility in reducing costs and passing it on to its customers. It also forthright in its commitment to utilising green, renewable forms of energy (Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, Jan 23) and reducing emissions from electricity producing emissions by 75 % by 2030. I also researched the amount of energy being used in the running shed in Inchicore by searching Irish Rail’s Energy review 2023. The (Significant Energy Users) SEU’s for the running shed showed an electrical energy usage of 137 MWh in 2022. That equates to 479,500 Euro to power the running shed per year.

Now there is a conscious effort by governments around the world to minimise climate change, this solar farm can be a benchmark for smaller businesses and households, reducing the costs of electricity to the consumer whilst providing a cleaner, greener and more sustainable source of electricity. With the proposed project, there is also potential for selling any unused electricity back to the grid. According to gov.ie publications (2024) – under the Climate Action Plan of 2023 and Climate Action Plan 2024, our Government has set a target of 80% of electricity generation supplied by renewal sources by 2030 of which 8 GW of solar PV is expected.

The south facing roof top sheds are prime locations for generating green, sustainable electricity. There is large south facing rooftops available in my proposed project being suggested in this feasibility study. As there’s no concise way of accurately measuring the roof, I have approximated the available space. Given the available roof top area I have just approximated the available space. Given the available roof top area is 3,200 m², factors including spacing between panels for optimal performance, maintenance access and unforeseen obstructions must be considered. By analysing these variables we will assume that 80 % of the south facing roof tops are available to mount solar panels. This concludes that there’s 2,560 m² available for the proposed solar farm.

A typical solar panel in 1.8 m² and it generates 0.324kW of power. Considering the estimated suitable surface area is 2,560 m², it is calculated that approximately 1, 422 solar panels can be erected on this south facing rooftop. But this doesn’t factor in the adequate space which is necessary between the panels, to allow for maintenance access and optimal performance. So again, if we approximate that 80% of the area south facing rooftop is available for an efficient solar panel network, we can estimate that there’s 2048 m² in an optimum location for solar panels. Given the dimensions of a solar panel is 1.8 m², 1137 solar panels can be installed factoring the spacing requirements. These panels have an efficiency factor of 18% and each panel generates approximately 0.324 kW of power per panel. This equates to approximately 368.4 kWh in optimum weather conditions, meaning almost 50,000 euros will be saved each year by using solar energy.

To calculate the cost of installing a 1137 solar panel system, it is estimated to cost between €280,000 and €400,000 between equipment and labour. Right now the SEAI are offering up to €162,600 for companies that are looking to build solar farms in their perspective locations. Irish Rail’s Inchicore Rail Works is in Dublin 8, and thus it will be quite easy to put any excess energy generated back onto the grid. This will be an important factor whether deciding on this solar farm is feasible or not. Inchicore Rail Works individual use of energy annually is not reported on. A future target set in the Iarnród Éireann Climate Action Plan 2023, include PV solar panels will be installed across Iarnród Éireann buildings where feasible, with almost 200 panels already installed at the new National Train Control Centre, and opportunities identified at Inchicore, Portlaoise and Drogheda but to date no panels have been installed. It is expected that this site and the building of a solar farm on this site, would largely offset the energy bill. The south facing roof on the running shed are completely unobstructed from daylight and prime real estate for a solar farm. It is also located in the city, making it quite easy to put any excess electricity back into the grid without needing to install major electrical works to facilitate any excess electricity back onto the grid.

Irish Rail will have to evaluate the risks involved in installation of the solar panels, but the rooftop of the running shed is at a low pitch and easily accessible from the ground. Scaffolding and/or safety bars will not need to be erected/ fixed in place to ensure safety of personnel working on the roofs during construction of the solar panel systems, and when maintenance of said panels is required. But as there is very little maintenance of solar panels required after installation, there will be very little need for work crews to be up on the rooftops after the panels have been assembled and commissioned.

The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) are offering grants of up to €162,600 euro for businesses to build solar farms on their premises. I have estimated that 1,137 can be erected on the south facing rooftops of Inchicore Rail Works 4 main buildings. If one panel is expected to generate approximately 546 to 874 kWh per year, then this proposed solar farm will generate approximately between 620,802 to 993,738 kWh.

We are told by Electric Ireland (2024) that 1kWh costs 35.67 cents during the hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Using these calculations, this proposed solar farm has the capability of making Irish Rail a turnover of 221,440 to 354,466 euro per year. This is a very startling finding, and as Irish Rail are one of the driving forces of Irelands green initiative, it is something that may look to do in the not-too-distant future. It is something that it is something that I will be proposing to the upper echelons of the company. This means that they will be able cover their own energy costs of running the Rail Works, and still being able to sell unused electricity back onto the grid. The ROI (Return on Investment) will be within 2 yrs. When including the grant on offer, and this will be without doubt a project that will be seriously considered by the major stakeholders at Irish Rail.

This proposed venture encapsulates most of the components of our engineering degree as;

1) Project Management: I will discuss project with the hierarchy of management in Irish Rail and highlight the speedy ROI from this installation.

2) Environmental Sustainability: It is a sustainable way of reducing Ireland’s carbon footprint.

3) LEAN Systems: It significantly reducing costs of the day to day energy costs in Inchicore Rail Works, making it an economical, efficient system.

4) Quality Systems and Emerging Technologies :The solar  panels, once installed, require minimal maintenance are a quality system and fall under the umbrella of emerging technologies in the fight against global warming.

5) Industrial Finances and Principles: It is also calculable, and we can accurately estimate how quickly the solar panels will have paid for themselves (ROI). We can also calculate how much money the panels will save Irish Rail, and even make by selling back to the grid, over the solar panels life cycle.

I feel that this is a definitely a viable project, that will help reduce Irish Rail’s energy costs, reducing their carbon emissions to harvesting their own electricity as their primary source of energy. This will increase Irish Rail’s self-sufficiency, reducing the costs to run the company, which may result in cost reductions to Irish Rail customers.

Iarnrod Eireann annual report of 2020 identifies that their Maynooth Depot has had Energy Efficient Design reviews being carried out to optimise the sustainability of the building and they aim to use renewable energy through various forms including solar PV, which suggests this may come on stream for Inchicore in the future. (2020 Iarnrod Eireann Annual Report).

If our government are serious about their carbon emission reduction targets for 2030 and their targets for 2050, opportunities to produce a greener, more sustainable method of producing electricity cannot be overlooked. If the government here expect the citizens of Ireland to get on board this green initiative, and help fight to reduce our carbon emissions, they have to be seen to lead by example. This is a prime example of finding a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way of energy production.

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