Silver Hill Foods and Vayu agree €1m green energy deal

Irish energy supplier Vayu has signed a renewable electricity deal with Silver Hill Foods, an Irish producer of duck products. Valued at €1 million over two years, the agreement will see Vayu supply Silver Hill with green energy to meet all of its year-round requirements.

Silver Hill Foods, which is based in Emyvale, Co Monaghan, processes more than 3.5 million ducks each year, owning and controlling all stages of the process from breeding to cooking.

The company also operates a feather plant for production of duck down products, including duvets and pillows.

Silver Hill exports 80 per cent of its products to the UK and continental Europe and recently embarked on an ambitious growth plan aimed at doubling its turnover and expanding the number of markets it operates in over the next five years.

The deal with Vayu provides Silver Hill Foods with direct access to wholesale electricity prices for its three sites in Co Monaghan. Vayu's customers include Ikea, Tesco, Bulmers, Eircom, Britvic and Aer Lingus. The energy company counts international commodity group Glencore Xstrata as the largest shareholder in its business.