Bank of Ireland's decarbonisation journey
Bank of Ireland IT centre reduces its reliance on fossil fuels contributing to BOI’s 49.3% SBTi Carbon reduction target.
Background
Bank of Ireland has been operating in Ireland since 1783. Today, the Group employs approximately 10,000 colleagues across 200 locations nationwide.
The Energy and Engineering team have been delivering energy efficiency and optimisation projects since the mid 1990s and are responsible for maintaining Bank of Ireland’s ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification. The team plays a key role in supporting the Group’s sustainability strategy, with a continued focus on improving energy performance, reducing environmental impact, and supporting long-term decarbonisation objectives.
LIEN
Over the past 30 years, SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) has grown into one of the world's leading industrial energy networks. It now includes many of Ireland's large industrial companies. These organisations are committed to improving their energy performance and reducing emissions.
Bank of Ireland is a member of SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) since 2009. Members have ongoing access to an energy advisor, special working groups, training and briefing events. LIEN members collaborate and learn from each other and all work towards energy savings and emissions reductions in line with national industry targets.
IT Centre projects
Bank of Ireland have implemented the following energy efficiency projects at their IT Centre in Cabinteely, Co. Dublin. This forms part of their 2030 decarbonisation strategy.
Installed a Heat Pump - They decommissioned two gas boilers and installed a 480kW heat pump in 2025.
Installed Solar PV - They installed a further 100 kWp of Solar PV in 2025. 100 kWp Solar PV system was already in place. This created a total of 200 kWp of renewable electricity generation onsite.
Installed EV Charging points - They installed EV charging points in several administration buildings to further encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by employees.
Project grant aid: The heat pump and Solar PV installations were financed through BOI’s sustainability budget, and they also availed of the SEAI grant for the Solar PV system.
"Investing in the right specification and design upfront was critical to achieving significant carbon reductions. This project demonstrates how combining heat pump technology with Solar PV can deliver both environmental and operational benefits, supporting our long-term sustainability goals."
Results
The heat pump has been operational since May 2025. Comparing May to November 2024 versus the same period in 2025, the centre observed an 85% reduction in carbon emissions. Additionally, the installation of the Solar PV system will offset most of the increased electricity consumption associated with the heat pump, further supporting their decarbonisation goals.
Carbon Emission (Scope 1) Reduction
The team estimates a reduction of 120 tCO2e p.a. (removing 760,500kWh of natural gas usage) after one full year of operation. The works have already achieved 300,000 kWhs/56 tCO2e savings from May 2025 to December 2025.
Renewable Energy Generation (Solar PV)
Up to 180,000 kWhs of renewable energy will be generated annually, which includes the 2025 new 100 kWp installation after one full year of operation. The new 100 kWp Solar PV has generated 65,000kWh since going live in April 2025 until December 2025.
What's next?
Bank of Ireland aims to reduce carbon emissions by 49.3% by 2030 in line with its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) carbon reduction target, while setting an ambitious internal goal of 90% reduction for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across its own operations by 2030.
The next major step on this decarbonisation journey is the planned installation of a 750-kW heat pump at the Dublin Head Office. This project is currently at the investigation stage and will include a Solar PV system to further enhance renewable energy generation.
All Bank of Ireland branches will have transitioned from Kerosene to HVO by Q1 in 2026. This follows all BOI buildings being upgraded to LED lighting in 2024 across its entire building portfolio.
Learn more about SEAI's Large Industry Network (LIEN) (opens in a new tab)
