Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Ballyogan Operations Centre Decarbonisation Project

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Climate Objectives

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Climate Action Plan 2024–2029 outlines objectives towards achieving a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, as mandated by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act.

As part of the Council’s broader strategy to meet its climate and energy performance targets, the Corporate Services Facilities Management team is tasked with developing decarbonisation projects for key, high-energy-use corporate buildings. The team has identified a pipeline of decarbonisation and energy retrofit projects, including:

• County Hall
• LexIcon Library & Cultural Centre
• Harbour Square Office Block
• Harbour Master’s Lodge
• Ballyogan Operations Centre
• Library Branches

Effective partnerships with agencies, such as CODEMA and SEAI, who provide valuable guidance and supports via the SEAI Pathfinder Programme, support the Council with the implementation of these projects. This case study will examine the decarbonisation project for the Ballyogan Operations Centre. 

Ballyogan Operations Centre

Background to the project

Ballyogan Operations Centre opened in 2012 and serves as a fully integrated hub for outdoor operations at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The facility comprises of two operations buildings and a 2.4 hectare services yard. Historically, the Operations Centre has accounted for approximately 3% of total energy consumed by the Council. 

The Utility Building is a hybrid structure combining in-situ concrete and timber. It houses staff welfare facilities, storage areas, mechanical garages, workshops, and a salt barn. The Administration Building comprises three floors of modern, open-plan office space. Constructed using mass timber with larch glue-laminated columns and beams, the building is passively designed and naturally ventilated. 

The energy centre was originally equipped with a 250kW biomass pellet boiler, supported by a natural gas boiler. Circa 2016, the gas boiler was upgraded to a cascade of more efficient condensing boilers. The original design also included a 120-tube evacuated solar thermal array and a comprehensive Building Management System.

By winter 2022, thermal demand at the facility was predominantly met by natural gas, due to the degradation and declining reliability of the biomass system. The biomass boiler ultimately reached end-of-life in September 2022 following water damage 

In early 2023, the Facilities team organised for a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment to be carried out.  Both the Administration and the Utility buildings received a C1 rating. 

Project details

Project Brief

The team at Ballyogan Operations Centre wrote up a project brief that focused on integrating renewable energy technologies. This strategy would complement the buildings’ energy-efficient design and combine to create a system with strong synergies. They selected measures based on clearly defined criteria, prioritising decarbonisation, energy performance improvement, cost effectiveness, Building Energy Rating (BER) improvement, and restoring continuity of building services.

The approved project plan included:

1. Installing roof-mounted solar PV on both buildings,
2. Optimising the existing solar thermal array
3. Energy centre upgrade, including the integration of Heat Pump technology. 

Project Targets

• Achieving up to a 95% reduction in natural gas usage
• Reducing carbon emissions from the heating system by over 40,000 kg per year
• Generating more than 160,000 kWh of clean, renewable electricity annually
• Exporting surplus renewable electricity back to the national grid
• Reducing ongoing operational expenditure

Delivery Model

The project delivery model leveraged the existing outsourced Facilities Management (FM) contract to design, build, commission, and maintain the new systems. In practice, this model enabled the engagement of pre vetted specialist engineers across both solar and mechanical disciplines, supported by essential project supervision from the FM service provider.

The project plan commenced in April 2023 and consisted of six key stages.

1. Feasibility Screening
2. Technical Assessment
3. Preliminary Design
4. Detailed Design
5. Installation and Commissioning
6. Measurement and Verification

Installation Phases

Solar PV Phase 1 - Nov 2023

Phase I of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation involved the deployment of a 62.04 kWp system comprising 132 solar panels on the administration building. The system will generate 18% of the sites 2022 electricity consumption and will save an estimated 27.767 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per annum. 

Preliminary works included an assessment of the roof structure by a structural engineer and consultation with a roofing specialist. 

Challenges encountered

• One of the primary challenges was installing the PV system on a green roof without compromising its waterproof membrane. This was overcome by using rubber mounts instead of mechanical fixings, leaving the roof intact.
• Another challenge was managing the interface between the solar PV system and the existing emergency power generator. In order to prevent both systems from operating simultaneously, an innovative solution was implemented: a 2-core cable was run from the auto changeover switch to the inverter. This ensures that in the event of a power outage, the solar system shuts down and the generator takes over, and the reverse happens when the power returns. This integration enables seamless and safe energy source switching. 

Measurement and Verification

(Results)

Thermal performance indicators 

Absolute Consumption June 2024 to May 2025 vs. Baseline Year 

Natural gas consumption is at near-zero levels since commissioning of the heat pumps. Actual improvement is outperforming the project target of a 95% decrease in gas. Absolute savings of 239,649 kWh have been achieved over the 12 months measured. The remaining gas consumption on site is associated with catering operations. No gas has been used for the purposes of space heating since October 2024. 

Annualised Natural Gas kWh/HDD Jan 2024 to June 2025 vs. Baseline Year

As of June 2025, the rolling 12-month Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI) shows a 74% improvement compared to the pre-project baseline.

Actual vs. Modelled Performance – HDD Variable Jan 2024 to June 2025

Weather is a significant variable that influences thermal demand at Ballyogan Operations Centre. Heating Degree Day (HDD) regression analysis is used to analyse thermal performance. This Performance Indicator demonstrates the effectiveness of intervention with improvement of up to 99% recorded.

Electrical Performance Indicator 

Consumption June 2024 to May 2025 vs. Baseline Year EnPI

Overall, grid electricity consumption decreased by 13% compared to 2022 consumption. Further improvements are anticipated over the next 12 months, driven by the additional benefits from the commissioning of Solar PV Phase 3 in April 2025.

Key project insights

Planning and design proved to be the most intensive stage of project implementation. Considerable attention was paid to examining the historical profile of the facility to select the most appropriate technologies and build for efficiency. 

• Requirement for project approval by Project Governance Board ensures clarity on vision, intent and expectations.
• A Technical Assessment was crucial to understand building fabric condition, heat loss, load profile and operating conditions.
• A “design to deliver” approach, co-ordinated within a central contract, provided for effective coordination between disciplines, allowing for informed decision-making at every stage, from feasibility through to commissioning. It ultimately contributed to a smoother delivery with strong budgetary and quality controls.
• Implementing a phased approach to solar panel installation helped build buy-in for the project and allowed for data to be collected, which was used to realise incremental improvements to overall solar design and system optimisation.
• Emphasis on continual improvement means reflections & learnings drive incremental business process improvements and better outcomes.

Learn more about the Pathfinder programme

The decarbonisation project at Ballyogan Operation Centre is on track to meet or exceed the established targets. It serves as a powerful example of what can be accomplished and will undoubtedly inspire other public bodies who are looking to enhance energy performance and reduce emissions. 

SEAI's Pathfinder programme was set up in 2017. It builds on years of cooperation with forward-thinking public bodies to improve their energy performance and reach their targets. The programme adopts a holistic approach to improving the energy performance of public bodies and sectors. Initially, we work with our partners to identify and remove barriers and gaps to achieving their energy saving and carbon reduction targets. We then help them to increase their levels of activity, pilot approaches to retrofit challenges and apply learnings to deliver best practice solutions.