A Galway medical-device plant built a 6 MWh battery and 4 MW of generators around its solar - and the installer behind it now sells through Energia
Ohk Energy says it built an 11.25 MW on-site power system for Dexcom's Athenry, Co. Galway factory: 1.25 MW of rooftop solar, a 6 MW / 6 MWh battery and two HVO generators totalling 4 MW. On 28 September 2026 Energia launched a commercial solar service delivered by the same installer. Energia's launch note quotes the old grant cap; SEAI now says up to €325,200 for new applications.
Here is what an Irish factory buys when losing power is not an option.
Dexcom makes medical devices at Athenry, Co. Galway. Installer Ohk Energy says it put 2,016 solar panels of 620 watts each on the roof - 1.25 MW. Next to that sits a battery Solar Ireland lists as 6 MW / 6 MWh, plus two HVO biofuel generators totalling 4 MW. Ohk adds it up to an 11.25 MW on-site system.
First, the terms. MW is how hard something can push. MWh is how much energy a battery holds. A 6 MW battery holding 6 MWh runs about one hour flat out. HVO is a renewable diesel made from waste oils and fats. Think of the setup as three layers: the solar is the tap, the battery is the bucket for the first hour, the generators are the well you fall back on.
Look at the sizes. The battery can push nearly five times what the solar makes at its best. That tells you the battery is not mainly there to store sunshine. It is there to catch the plant when the grid drops, and to trim peaks, until the generators take the load.
The numbers to treat with care. Ohk says the system cuts Dexcom's energy requirements by 30%, with a payback of 2.5 to 3 years. Solar Ireland's note says about 30% of daytime demand. Those are different claims, and neither is a published meter reading. In March, Solar Ireland said full completion was expected in July 2026. We have not seen a completion notice.
Why it matters this month. On 28 September 2026 Energia launched Energia Commercial Solar, with Ohk Energy doing the installs and Energia account managers staying with the customer. Energia's note says the SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) is capped at €162,600. SEAI's own page now says 45%, up to €325,200 for a 1,000 kWp system, for new applications from 6 October 2026 to 6 July 2027. Applications made before 6 October are not lifted. The grant tops out at 1,000 kWp, so Dexcom's 1.25 MW roof would sit above it.
Good: A named plant, panel count, panel size, battery size, generator size, and a named installer. A clear look at the resilience-first design.
Bad: No euro cost, no tariff, no confirmed completion date. The 30% figure changes meaning between sources. The payback is the installer's.
Ugly: We will not turn "2.5 to 3 years" into your payback. A medical-device plant pays a lot for one lost hour; a warehouse might not. If a quote or sales note gives you a grant cap, check it against SEAI's page before you sign.
Soft next step: write down what one hour of outage costs your site. If it is big, design the battery for that hour first and the solar second. Get your SEAI application in before works start and wait for the letter of offer. If you want a second read on sizing, book a short consult at Sovryn Energy /consult.
Source: Ohk Energy case study, 25 Mar 2026 - Ireland's Largest Energy Resilience System (3-Year ROI). Primary for Dexcom Athenry, 2,016 x 620 W panels, 1.25 MW PV, 6 MWh battery, 4 MW HVO (two generators), 11.25 MW total, "reduces energy requirements by 30%", 2.5–3 year payback. Solar Ireland member news, 18 Mar 2026. Cross-check for 6 MW / 6 MWh rating, ~30% of daytime demand, system services potential, full completion expected July 2026. Energia, 28 Sep 2026 - Energia and Ohk Energy launch new solar energy partnership. Primary for the launch, Ohk delivery role, NDMG cap as quoted (€162,600). SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant page. Primary for 45% effective rate, up to €325,200, 1,000 kWp maximum, 6 Oct 2026 – 6 Jul 2027 window, no uplift for existing applications, letter of offer before works.