Medtronic develops healthcare technologies for the most complex and challenging conditions. What is less visible is the equally demanding task behind the scenes: managing energy-intensive operations in a sustainable and future-proof way. At the Galway campus in Ireland, Medtronic is taking a clear, forward-looking approach – positioning energy as a strategic asset rather than a constraint. Through the Interreg North-West Europe project GEMS (Green Energy Management Systems for business parks), this ambition is turned into concrete action.
Medtronic is an American Irish company and a global leader in medical technology, services and solutions. From the world’s smallest pacemaker to robotic-assisted surgery, the company develops innovations that improve the lives and health of millions of people each year. Its mission goes beyond technological excellence alone: contributing to human welfare through biomedical engineering while maintaining good citizenship as a company.
Rethinking energy management systems
This perspective naturally aligns with GEMS (Green Energy Management Systems for business parks), a European initiative that brings together business parks across North-West Europe to rethink how energy systems are designed and managed. Through six pilot sites in five countries the project develops scalable energy management models and shares knowledge across borders.
Through cutting-edge solutions such as Energy Management Systems (EMS) and digital twin technologies, the project empowers regional business parks, which form the backbone of the European economy. This approach supports industrial hubs to become drivers of the low-carbon transition, combining operational resilience with collective impact.
The Galway Campus as a Living Lab
Medtronic’s Galway campus serves as one of the project’s pilot sites. The business park brings together medical device assembly, toolmaking, manufacturing and training facilities, resulting in a diverse mix of activities with very different energy demands. This variation, combined with its position in a densely populated area, makes the site a compelling testing ground for the GEMS project.
For Facilities Manager Tony Murphy, participation in GEMS is driven by two clear ambitions. “First, we want to fully understand and harvest the green energy potential of the business park itself,” he explains. “Second, we want to explore how excess energy can be shared with the surrounding community, demonstrating the EU Energy Sharing Directive in practice.” In doing so, Medtronic aims to move beyond optimization within its own boundaries and actively contribute to the wider energy ecosystem.
Achieving these ambitions requires close collaboration across the local energy landscape. Medtronic is therefore working with a broad range of partners, including the electricity utility, the local municipality, innovative smart grid technology suppliers, and independent measurement and verification experts. Together, these partners are laying a solid foundation for data-driven decision-making and ensuring that solutions developed within the pilot can be scaled up in the future.
Systemic solutions
One of the key issues Medtronic currently faces is integrating renewable generation with existing diesel-based backup systems. During periods when generators are operational, renewable energy can be disconnected, leading to solar PV spill – particularly noticeable during weekends.
“These moments made it clear that we need a smarter way of managing energy,” says Murphy. Within GEMS, Medtronic is therefore exploring battery storage solutions, expanded solar PV potential across the park, and the development of an advanced Energy Management System supported by digital twin technology. Together, these innovations aim to better balance generation, consumption and storage in real time.
Looking ahead, Medtronic sees a strong and evolving role for business parks in the wider energy transition. By actively managing their energy systems, business parks can enhance local grid resilience, support the integration of renewable energy and contribute to the electrification of heat. Through its participation in GEMS, Medtronic extends its commitment to long-term impact beyond healthcare, applying the same forward-looking mindset to the way energy is managed and shared.