Alternative Energy Ireland
Alternative Energy Ireland is a Dublin-based commercial solar PV installer, founded in 2006 and owned by Certa Ireland/DCC plc, offering turnkey rooftop solar systems and a subscription-based Solar As A Service model to large Irish commercial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Alternative Energy Ireland does
Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI) is a Dublin-based commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) installer founded in 2006 and acquired by Certa Ireland (part of FTSE 100 DCC plc) in 2023. The company designs, sells, and installs rooftop solar PV systems for Irish commercial customers, targeting large enterprises with significant on-site electricity consumption across manufacturing, automotive, retail, hospitality, engineering, and agricultural co-operative segments. Core technology is commodity commercial solar PV paired with cloud-based real-time production and consumption monitoring; AEI's point of differentiation is service packaging rather than hardware innovation.
AEI operates two commercial go-to-market motions: a one-time capex sale of solar PV systems and a recurring "Solar As A Service" subscription model in which AEI retains ownership of the panels and customers pay a fixed monthly fee with no upfront capital outlay. Financing for the subscription model is provided through sister company Wewise, and the offering is distributed in part through Certa's established B2B fuel distribution channel. AEI also offers residential solar PV and grant application assistance (Exceed and Green Plus grants) as ancillary lines.
The company's growth strategy is anchored by Certa/DCC's €50 million five-year investment plan, which targets 50 MW of installed solar capacity across 100 large Irish businesses and is supported by the DCC Energy division's broader capital and operational footprint (DCC plc operates in 22 countries with ~16,000 employees). Founder Stephen Bray continues as Managing Director.
Alternative Energy Ireland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alternative Energy Ireland
- Legal name
- Alternative Energy Ireland
- Website
- https://aeicommercial.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Alternative Energy Ireland is a Dublin-based commercial solar PV installer, founded in 2006 and owned by Certa Ireland/DCC plc, offering turnkey rooftop solar systems and a subscription-based Solar As A Service model to large Irish commercial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alternative Energy Ireland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Solar PV Installation
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)
Keywords
Where Alternative Energy Ireland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alternative Energy Ireland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar Panel Sales and Installation: Direct sales of commercial solar PV systems to businesses, including design, installation, and commissioning. Revenue is generated through one-time installation fees for purchased systems.
- Solar As A Service (SaaS): Subscription-style model where customers pay a fixed monthly fee for solar power generation without upfront capital investment. AEI retains ownership of the panels and provides ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and financing through sister company Wewise.
- Grant Facilitation Services: AEI assists customers in claiming relevant grants such as the Exceed grant and Green Plus grant for large projects over €100,000, potentially reducing effective customer cost and facilitating sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Solar As A Service - Fixed Monthly Fee Model |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Direct Solar PV Purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Project-based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Alternative Energy Ireland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alternative Energy Ireland designs, sells, and installs commercial and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for Irish customers, delivering turnkey solutions that include feasibility study, system design, grant application assistance, installation, and ongoing cloud-based monitoring. The company offers both direct capital purchase and a Solar As A Service subscription model (no upfront cost, fixed monthly fee) financed through sister company Wewise, targeting primarily large and mid-sized commercial businesses with energy-cost reduction and sustainability goals.
Product overview
Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI) operates as a single-product solar installation company offering commercial and residential solar photovoltaic systems. The core offering is Commercial Solar PV panels, complemented by the Solar As A Service financing model (allowing no upfront capital with fixed monthly payments), a residential solar sub-product, and grant assistance services. The company was acquired by Certa Ireland (part of DCC plc) in 2023 and provides end-to-end services from feasibility study through installation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Solar PV
- Solar As A Service
- Residential Solar PV
- Grant Assistance Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to 80% on electrical bills
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Alternative Energy Ireland
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alternative Energy Ireland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Alternative Energy Ireland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WewisecoreWewise is the sister company providing financing arrangements for the Solar As A Service offering. This partnership enables customers to access solar energy without upfront capital investment, with Wewise funding the installations and AEI managing the operational aspects.
- Certa (DCC Group)coreCerta, a fuel supplier company and part of DCC group, acquired Alternative Energy Ireland in 2023. AEI provides the Solar as a Service offering under Certa's €50 million five-year plan to invest in solar energy projects for Irish businesses. This acquisition integrates AEI's solar expertise with Certa's established commercial energy distribution network.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alternative Energy Ireland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BEC Solar: Irish solar PV installation company offering commercial and residential systems. Directly comparable as a domestic Irish solar installer competing for the same enterprise and mid-market customers as AEI.
- BNRG Renewables: Ireland-based solar PV developer and installer (formed via merger of BNRG and EvoEnergy) operating across commercial and utility-scale projects. Comparable in Irish market focus and full-stack solar project delivery model.
- Activ8 Solar Energies: Irish solar energy provider delivering commercial and residential PV installations with energy monitoring. Comparable in Irish market, commercial customer focus and integrated monitoring offerings.
- Pure Solar: Irish solar PV installer targeting residential and commercial customers with turnkey installation services. Comparable in Irish geography, customer overlap and turnkey solar delivery approach.
- Enerpower: Ireland-based renewable energy installer specialising in solar PV, wind and battery systems for commercial and industrial clients. Comparable in Irish market focus and commercial/industrial customer segment.
- Solar Electric Ireland: Irish commercial and residential solar PV installer offering design, installation and grid connection services. Directly comparable to AEI in geography, customer base (Irish commercial clients) and core offering of rooftop solar PV.
Broad incumbents
- SunPower: Global solar technology and installation company serving residential and commercial customers. Comparable in commercial rooftop PV installations and integrated hardware/software offering, but broader geographic and product portfolio.
- EDF Renewables Ireland: Subsidiary of EDF (major European utility) operating utility-scale and commercial solar in Ireland. Comparable in Irish market presence and commercial solar offerings, but part of a much larger diversified energy group with broader portfolio.
- Tesla Energy: Global solar and storage provider offering commercial and residential PV systems with integrated monitoring. Comparable in commercial rooftop solar delivery and monitoring, but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple geographies.
Regional players
- Hometree Energy: UK residential and commercial solar subscription/installation provider offering a 'solar as a service' style model. Comparable to AEI's subscription financing model but serves UK rather than Irish customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alternative Energy Ireland social profiles
Digital presenceAlternative Energy Ireland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alternative Energy Ireland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Alternative Energy Ireland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alternative Energy Ireland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alternative Energy Ireland
What does Alternative Energy Ireland do?
Alternative Energy Ireland designs, sells, and installs commercial and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for Irish customers, delivering turnkey solutions that include feasibility study, system design, grant application assistance, installation, and ongoing cloud-based monitoring. The company offers both direct capital purchase and a Solar As A Service subscription model (no upfront cost, fixed monthly fee) financed through sister company Wewise, targeting primarily large and mid-sized commercial businesses with energy-cost reduction and sustainability goals.
Is Alternative Energy Ireland a public or private company?
Alternative Energy Ireland is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Alternative Energy Ireland founded?
Alternative Energy Ireland was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alternative Energy Ireland based?
Alternative Energy Ireland is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Alternative Energy Ireland make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar Panel Sales and Installation is the primary driver. The others are solar As A Service (SaaS) and grant Facilitation Services.
Who are Alternative Energy Ireland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BEC Solar, BNRG Renewables, Activ8 Solar Energies, Pure Solar, Enerpower and Solar Electric Ireland. Broad incumbents are SunPower, EDF Renewables Ireland and Tesla Energy. Hometree Energy is listed as a regional player.
Does Alternative Energy Ireland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alternative Energy Ireland.
What industry is Alternative Energy Ireland in?
Alternative Energy Ireland's product category is Commercial Solar PV Installation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System), with a secondary code of IMADAFAO, Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.