19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
New Lidl store in Maynooth to be Ireland's first net-zero supermarket
Lidl has announced the building of Ireland's first net-zero energy supermarket in Maynooth, as the retail giant seeks to wipe out its emissions completely by 2050.
Construction has already begun on the state-of-the-art store, which will use concrete made from 50% recycled materials, as well as glulam timber roof beams and sustainable carbon roof panels. Additionally, stone from Lidl's original Maynooth location will be reused in parts of the new construction.
'When we joined the Irish retail market 25 years ago, we transformed shopping behaviour," said Lidl Ireland CEO Robert Ryan.
"With this investment, we are once again leading the way—bringing to life our commitment to achieving Net Zero for our customers and enhancing the sustainable credentials of the Irish retail industry."
With the new build, Lidl is hoping to secure the coveted Outstanding rating from the Irish Green Building Council. The retail giant has already committed to cutting its operational emissions by 46% in the next five years, with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero by 2050 in mind.
According to Irish Green Building Council CEO Pat Barry, the store marks "a new era for sustainable retail, combining innovation in store design, renewable energy, and carbon reduction for both operational and embodied carbon."
It is an excellent case study that will help guide sustainable construction in Ireland in light of upcoming changes to European legislation for Zero emissions buildings measured across their full life," he continued.
'The development of our Net Zero Energy store is the next step in our sustainability journey," said Ryan. "More than just a supermarket, this store will serve as a test bed for sustainable innovations—helping us identify scalable improvements that can be rolled out across our entire network to deliver greater energy and carbon savings.'
When opened, the new store will provide six electric vehicle charging points for shoppers, each of which will run off renewable energy. In addition, 12 e-bike and scooter chargers will be installed on the premises, as well as enhanced on-site cycle parking.
The project also bolsters Lidl's reputation as owners of the largest rooftop solar panel array in the country, with two 575 kwp panels to be installed on the location's roof and in its car park.
The store will also differ from other Lidl locations visually, with plant boxes installed on the roof and a 'living wall' feature inside. Some of the location's fixtures will also raise awareness of biodiversity, such as its planned 'Ecological Community Garden', complete with bird boxes, native plants and log piles to attract insects.
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien praised the build as "innovative".
I commend the entire team at Lidl for their vision," he said whilst visiting the construction site, "demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.'
Waste was kept to a minimum during the dismantling of the previous store - with local primary schools receiving bird boxes and insect hotels crafted from the old location's roof. Community association ACRE were also involved, repurposing soil from the previous site and using old fencing to build chicken coops.
Overall, the energy saved by the project is equivalent to the energy consumed by 40 average Irish households. The carbon saved by the construction is also equivalent to 1,500 annual flights from Ireland to Spain.
