Taking centre stage with solar at the MAC

Customer: The MAC

Industry: Arts

System Size: 40 kW

Number of Panels: 68

Number of Inverters: 1

Installation Year: 2025

Carbon Savings Annually: 11,000kg

Carbon Saved within Panel Warranty: 295,000kg

Background

Located in the heart of Belfast’s busy Cathedral Quarter, the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) is one of Northern Ireland’s leading venues. Since opening its doors, the MAC has become a creative hub for the community, hosting exhibitions, performances, and events that inspire and engage audiences from across the region.

Climate in Action is the MAC’s theme for 2025/26 and their commitment to sustainability is embedded into the organisation as a key strand of their strategic plan. With rising energy costs and an ambition to reduce its carbon footprint, the MAC sought a renewable energy solution that would support both their environmental values and operational efficiency.

System Details

In 2025, the MAC took a significant step towards sustainability by partnering with Solarfix to install a 40 kW solar system. This system features 68 solar panels mounted on a flat roof mounting kit, supported by 34 SolarEdge optimisers and a 33.3kW SolarEdge inverter. This high-performance system was designed to maximise energy generation and long-term reliability while reducing the MAC’s reliance on the grid. The installation was carried out with minimal disruption to the company’s daily activities, ensuring a seamless transition to renewable energy.

Energy & Carbon Savings

The MAC’s solar installation delivers both immediate and long-term value. In the first year alone, the system is projected to save over £8,000 in electricity costs, which is a total saving of more than £300,000 over the panel warranty period.

By generating their own clean electricity on-site, the MAC has significantly reduced its reliance on the grid, insulating the organisation from volatile energy markets and rising utility prices.

They are now effectively ‘forward buying’ their energy, locking in the cost of a portion of its electricity for decades to come. This financial predictability is a key advantage of solar, allowing the MAC to reinvest operational savings into its artistic and community programmes rather than energy bills.

From an environmental perspective, the system will save over 11,000 kg of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to 295,000 kg of carbon over 25 years. This significant reduction supports the MAC’s sustainability targets and demonstrates their leadership in green energy adoption within the arts sector.

Health & Safety

At Solarfix, health and safety are paramount throughout all stages of the installation process. Working in a constrained city centre environment presented unique challenges for the team. With limited access routes and restricted working space, careful planning and coordination were essential to ensure safety and minimise disruption.

Despite the challenges of working at height and in a busy urban setting, the Solarfix team completed the installation safely, efficiently, and without disruption to the MAC’s daily operations.

Partnership

The relationship between the MAC and Solarfix NI was built on clear communication, trust, and professionalism from day one. The MAC Facilities Manager Emmett praised Solarfix for their flexibility and technical expertise, highlighting the seamless process from initial consultation through to post-installation support.

“We spoke with several different solar providers, but we found Solarfix to be the most knowledgeable, most cost effective, and when they came to delivering the project, they couldn’t do enough for us. They’ve been very professional and we’re over the moon with our installation.”

Conclusion

The solar installation at the MAC is a landmark project, demonstrating how cultural institutions can lead the way in sustainability. With significant cost savings, reduced carbon emissions, and a system built to last, the MAC has taken an important step toward a greener future.

At Solarfix NI, we’re proud to have supported the MAC in realising their vision for cleaner, more efficient energy.

If you’re interested in exploring how solar can benefit your organisation, contact Solarfix NI on 0800 246 5198 or complete our online contact form.