TAOISEACH OPENS ACTIV8 SOLAR ENERGIES HEADQUARTERS, THE FIRST ZERO-NET CARBON EMISSIONS BUILDING IN COUNTY MONAGHAN

By Veronica Corr

Friday was a glorious day in Carrickmacross, which was fitting because it marked the beginning of what was hailed as “the solar revolution”. Taoiseach Micheál Martin joked that he could tell how much the staff enjoyed their work, because they were out basking in the sunshine upon his arrival! Activ8 started with one man’s idea and his ambition to become self-employed. Ciaran Marron from Corduff, the CEO of Activ8 Energies, started off at his kitchen table, then moved out of the house into a container, then opened an office on the Shercock Road Carrickmacross, before opening the custombuilt headquarters in the Nexus Industrial Estate Carrickmacross, which is the only zero-net carbon emissions building in County Monaghan. The building produces more energy than it consumes and Activ8 is the sole solar supplier contracted by SSE Electricity. Activ8 currently employs 140 people in its new premises and on Tuesday it was announced that another 200 highly-skilled jobs would be created there over the next two years. Ciaran was complimented for his vision, identifying the need to move to solar and sustainable energy sources, and was hailed as being ahead of his time. Read the full story in Carrickmacross News this week.