Irish Solar Panel Provider, ACTIV8 Energies, has announced the acquisition of Burnley-based Low Carbon Energy (LCE) as part of ambitious plans to expand his presence in the British renewable sector.
Activ8, which is 50% owned by SSE Airtricityaims to double sales and install the solar capacity in the coming years, and positions itself as the leading commercial and industrial renewable energy supplier of the UK. The acquisition of LCE – with a customer portfolio that includes BMW, Porsche and the NHS – feeds ACTIV8 on a solid foot to realize the growth positions.
The deal sees ACTIV8 100% of the share of LCE acquiring, while Benedict Ennis will continue to lead the company as director. Founder Gednis remains as a non-executive director to provide guidance during the next growth phase of the company.
Ciarán Marron, CEO of ACTIV8, said: “This acquisition marks a transforming moment for ACTIV8 while we accelerate our British growth ambitions. By combining the strengths of ACTIV8 and low carbon energy, we are better equipped than ever to provide innovative, large -scale energy solutions for sustainable energy.”
ACTIV8, founded in 2007 and with headquarters in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, has established itself as a respected name in residential and commercial solar installations. The partnership of ACTIV8 with SSE, which started in 2018, has enabled it to scale activities and to focus on supplying effective solar solutions to meet the growing demand for renewable energy.
Since then, ACTIV8 has been very successful, installing thousands of solar systems throughout Ireland and is now intended to replicate that success on the British market. The Acquisition of LCE follows the successful completion of ACTIV8 of a £ 3 million solar farm on the John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, which will soon provide 25% of the airport electricity needs.
National vision
LCE has installed more than 60 MW of solar capacity on 300 sites and the leadership has spoken about the partnership.
Benedict Ennis, director of LCE, said: “The track record and market leadership of ACTIV8 will enable us to build on our foundations, to expand our team and deliver more projects on a larger scale, nationally.”
LCE was founded in 2009 and has since built up a strong reputation in the British sun sector. The company’s customer portfolio includes high-profile names such as Co-op, Boeing, Drax Power, Tata Steel, Wickes and United Utilities.
The British sun sector continues to thrive under the current Labor Government, with Solar deployment ready to increase 50% on an annual basis After an impressive growth in H2 2024. That reflects a positive audience sentiment for solar installations, where Solar Energy UK thinks so 77% of the respondents in their March 2025 survey Would support the development of solar energy in their environment.
