Roz Purcell leads celebrations as Lidl opens Ireland’s first Net Zero Energy supermarket in Kildare

Today, Lidl Ireland took a major step towards a greener future with the opening of Ireland’s first ever Net Zero Energy supermarket in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, with the help of one of Ireland’s favourite eco advocates, Roz Purcell, who cut the ribbon alongside Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien T.D. 

Named Ireland’s Most Sustainable Retailer, Lidl Ireland has invested more than €10 million into the local community in delivering the first supermarket in the country to produce all of its own energy from renewable sources and have no impact on the climate, marking a major milestone for Irish businesses on the journey to becoming more sustainable.

Employing 32 local staff, the team at Lidl Maynooth officially opened the doors at 8am on Thursday, November 6^th and welcomed hundreds of shoppers across the doors to enjoy opening day offers and free Lidl gift vouchers to redeem in-store for the first queuing customers. The store team also selected local charity Maynooth Autism Friendly Town to receive a donation of €1,000 in Lidl vouchers.

Lidl Maynooth shoppers can now enjoy a brighter, greener, and more energy-efficient store than ever before, complete with stunning eco features that make this Lidl truly one of a kind including:

• Living Wall: A lush living wall surrounds the store entrance, sustained by a smart rainwater recovery system that keeps the garden green year-round
• Community Garden: Boasting a beautiful pollinator-friendly community garden with bird boxes, native wildflower planting, and insect log piles, creating a thriving habitat for biodiversity right in the heart of the local community
• Sustainable Journeys: Within its 110-space car park, customers can avail of 6 EV charging stations powered by renewable electricity, and two additional EV charging spaces for staff. For those choosing active or electric travel, there are 12 free-to-use chargers for e-bikes and scooters, along with enhanced cycle parking facilities
• Bigger DRS Machines: Customers can avail of two Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) machines, one of which is a high-capacity bulk feeder, only the second of its kind in any Lidl store in Ireland, making it even easier for customers to recycle large quantities of plastic bottles and cans in one go
• Solar Powered Energy: Solar panels installed across the roof and car park - equivalent to the size of 13 tennis courts – as well as a battery that stores up to six hours of energy generated from solar allows the store to operate efficiently overnight
• Next-Generation Refrigeration: Innovative, energy efficient technology within the store and its chillers and freezers captures waste heat to keep these areas cool, and recycles it to heat the store.
• Sustainable Construction: Lidl Maynooth was built using stone salvaged from the original Maynooth store, concrete made from 50% recycled materials, sustainable timber roof beams and lower embodied carbon roof and wall panels.

These features all support Lidl Ireland’s overarching Sustainability Strategy which aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and cut operational carbon by 46% by 2030.

Known for her passion for sustainable living, Roz Purcell commented on the opening:

“I’m thrilled to be here to celebrate Irish innovation in sustainability. It’s amazing to see a supermarket that’s showing what real sustainability looks like, from solar panels on the roof to flowers for the bees outside. It’s proof that doing your weekly shop and helping the planet can go hand in hand. This Lidl store is helping consumers understand the importance of sustainability and showing that with little changes we can all create a better, greener future.”

Speaking at the opening, Robert Ryan, CEO of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, added:

“When we entered the Irish market 25 years ago, we changed how people shopped. Today, we’re changing how supermarkets are built, making greener choices for our planet, our communities, and our customers. Our Maynooth store is more than just a supermarket; it’s a statement of what’s possible when sustainability is built into every decision.”

“As part of its design, the store includes 575 kWp of solar panels on the roof and car park canopy, generating the same amount of energy used by over 40 Irish homes each year. That’s the equivalent carbon saving of avoiding 1,500 flights from Ireland to Spain annually. We are so proud to be leading the way in creating a sustainable future for Irish retail and helping our customers realise that sustainability and value can go hand in hand.”

With every detail considered, from recycled building materials to community donations of soil, fencing, and timber, Lidl’s Net Zero Energy store in Maynooth marks a proud first for Ireland and a glimpse at the future of greener shopping.

ENDS//