Press Release – 21/02/2024
Dundalk Bay Seafood’s Ltd, a third-generation seafood company based in Clogherhead County Louth, has completed a €700,000 investment to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint. The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. The investment received support from BIM, Ireland’s seafood development agency, with funding of almost €270,000 from the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme. This scheme, recommended by the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie Monologue T.D., will provide up to €45 million in funding to the seafood processing sector and is funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
Pat and Cathal Lynch, the directors of Dundalk Bay Seafood’s Ltd, expressed their gratitude for the support of the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme. They said that the efficiencies achieved due to the scheme will enable them to decrease their energy costs by 80%, which is a significant contribution to lowering their bottom line. This reduction in energy costs will help them become more competitive in the market and secure the company’s future for the next generation.
The Brexit Process Capital Support Scheme helped Dundalk Bay Seafood by installing 465 PV solar panels, which will generate up to 172 Mwh of electricity per annum, providing 50% of their current annual electricity needs. The company also invested in modern Eco-Line refrigeration equipment, powered by “Variable Speed Compressors”. This new equipment replaces a 20-year-old refrigeration system operated by single-speed compressors, contributing to a 22% saving in overall electricity consumption. Improved insulation in temperature-controlled areas will improve energy retention and further reduce electricity consumption by another 10-12%.
Dundalk Bay Seafood’s Ltd was founded 49 years ago and is currently the longest-operating Dublin Bay Prawn processor in Ireland, it has 30 staff specializing in the processing of Dublin Bay Prawns. In recent years, they have expanded their product range to include locally sourced Razor Clams and King Scallops. The investments made with the support of BIM have future-proofed the company, establishing a pathway for future growth in their export markets of Italy, France, Spain, and Asia.
