Waterford Grid Study Finds Potential for Renewable Energy Projects

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A recent study conducted by Mullan Grid Consulting, for 3cea with funding from Waterford Leader Partnership, highlights the electricity grid’s capacity for renewable energy projects in County Waterford.

With many substations located around the county, Waterford communities have access to connect to the grid. Renewable energy projects which may be suitable for local communities include wind farms and solar farms. Both developments would need to securely connect to the grid for sufficient use. This study was conducted to see what capacity is available in County Waterford prior to planning a renewable energy project in our local communities.

Under the Renewable Energy Support Scheme communities can develop their own renewable energy project of between 0.5 and 5 MW. The biggest barrier to developing any renewable energy project is grid capacity. 3cea applied for Leader funding to carry out a study on where the best sites for community renewable energy projects might be based on the grid capacity. The study was completed by Mullan Grid.

The Waterford Grid Study is available here for communities who wish to see the potential in their area for a renewable energy project.

To learn more about our community group projects, visit our communities page here.

Meet the Buyer: 3CEA’s Dynamic Purchasing System Event

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The DPS Information Event will take place on Tuesday 21st of June from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm at the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny.

This in-person Information Event will be seeking contractors to be part of our Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of goods and services for energy and climate action consultancy projects and for the provision of energy efficiency, renewable energy and retrofit works (2 lots).

The aim of this event is to provide basic information and introduce the recently published Dynamic Purchasing System to potential contractors in the energy efficiency, renewable energy and retrofitting field. We will provide helpful tips on how to register as a contractor and what you need to do to be successful.

3cea is committed to delivering the National Retrofit Programme and attracting significant investment in energy efficiency and low carbon projects in the region towards 2030. Through the DPS procurement system, 3cea will be partnering with contractors, suppliers, industry experts, technical specialists and associates to help deliver energy efficiency in the South East and beyond.

This DPS is being established for a period of ten years in accordance with the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 (SI 284 of 2016) (‘the Regulations’) for the purchasing of certain energy-related goods and services and the provision of energy efficiency, renewable energy and retrofitting works divided into two lots in order to support 3cea’s strategy to deliver energy-related projects and partner with experts in particular fields.

The event will offer a chance for all attendees to:

• Meet the 3cea team & briefing on potential works/projects to 2030

• Understand the upcoming DPS framework and its procurement process

• Ask questions on how to get on the framework as a contractor

 

Register here

Going Green for Business : Waterford Chamber

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As part of Waterford Chambers ‘Green Month’ in May, 3CEA took part in the Going Green for Business event. Grainne Kennedy, Energy Engineer for 3cea presented on the funding opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for businesses, communities and homeowners in the Waterford area.

Going Green for Business : Waterford Chamber

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As part of Waterford Chambers ‘Green Month’ in May, 3CEA are excited to take part in Going Green for Business event. We will be presenting on funding opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for businesses, communities and homeowners in the Waterford area.

You will also hear from Owen Power of Enerpower on the latest energy offerings and from Energia on practical implementation without disruption to business. We will also have a number of industry agencies and professionals on site to discuss your needs.

The event is free and will help you along your own sustainable journey. Waterford Chamber is committed to the UN Sustainability Goals and a key stakeholder of the Waterford Green Deal initiative. Please join us as we work together for a better Waterford for everyone.

Register for FREE here

 

The National Energy Summit 2022

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As part of the National Energy Summit 2022, 3CEA attended the Opengela Conference in Bilbao. The conference brought together industry experts and thought leaders from both the public and private sectors to find solutions to the issues facing us in securing our energy supply. It examined the programme of work that is being delivered to secure the longer-term enduring capacity that is needed to reach our 2030 targets and to meet the demands of our growing and decarbonising economy.

“The conference was a great event for 3CEA to attend. It focused on the One Stop Shops and how they work at ground level with the beneficiaries. The importance of how communication and trust is developed and built was a key part of the project. The project brought us to the city of Eibar in the Basque Country to see projects which have been completed and are in the process of development. Good solid networks were created with other participants in the group and it was agreed that we would continue to work on the project and disseminate information in the future”,

Colin Simpson, Housing and Commercial delivery manager for 3cea.

THE SOUTHEAST SURPASSES ENERGY REDUCTION TARGETS AND SAVES €20M

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TWO DECADES OF 3 Counties Energy Agency SUCCESS 

The County Councils of Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford working closely with 3 Counties Energy Agency (3CEA), have not only met but all exceeded the 33% energy reduction target set in the National Climate Action Plan.  

3CEA was set up in 2002, and developed partnerships with the County Councils, SMEs, Communities and citizens making their Energy Transition journey smoother. 

“It is really making a difference. 3CEA technical support ensures that project opportunities are identified and acted upon promptly where practical. The 3 Counties Energy Agency worked with the Councils’ Energy Teams to deliver projects that will deliver ongoing long term sustained energy reduction in each case resulting in a cumulative saving of €19.97M. All three Local Authorities are participating in a number of EU energy-saving projects with the assistance of 3CEA,” says Paddy Phelan, CEO of 3CEA.

Energy efficiency remains a priority to deliver further improvements and the County Councils of Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford have been joined by Waterford city and County in 2021, all with the same mission of optimising their energy efficiency actions. 

“3CEA work in collaboration with the Local Authorities to evaluate, pilot and deliver great energy and carbon saving projects across their own building, public lighting & transport stock. The role of the Local Authorities to lead by example and good examples of this partnership are projects being delivered through various national grant programmes such as the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications Climate Action Fund and the SEAI’s Community Energy Grants. These are led by the Local Authorities, coordinated and managed by the Energy Agency, who are working with the many SME’s, communities and homeowners delivering projects right across the south east. This model of partnership is key to our success and to the success of the energy transition in the South East. The Local Authorities are playing their part and have met their own 2020 targets, with projects planned to ensure they meet the more ambitious 2030 targets. We, that is society as a whole, need to change our behaviour and reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Everyone must play a part and 3CEA are here, to offer independent advice to all who want to make a difference,” said Alex Hamilton, 3CEA Senior Engineer.

CARLOW INCREASED EFFICIENCY BY 40%

Carlow County Council achieved 40% improvement in energy efficiency by delivering 17 energy saving projects, for example in public lighting (with long lasting LED bulbs and photocell controls saving 29,000 euro per annum), zero energy housing, and a revamp of the Carlow Fire Station heating system and addition of solar panels.

In everyday terms this is the equivalent of making 140 million cups of tea, or 63000 journeys from Malin Head to Mizen Head, a carbon emission reduction of 7000 tons. Growing numbers of homeowners are availing of grants to carry out energy upgrades and deep retrofits and the county is now 39.9% more energy efficient, beating the 33.3% target.

KILKENNY SAVED ENOUGH ENERGY TO BREW 670 MILLION CUPPAS

Kilkenny County Council saved energy for 670 million cups of tea and 59000 trips the length of the country reducing emissions by 6500 tonnes. This produced a saving of 2.6 million euro for the Council, delivering a saving of 41.6%, well above the 33.3% target. Public Lighting is the single biggest user of energy for the Council and multiple upgrades, including in the Kilkenny Machinery Yard have been carried out. Heating reduction such as in Castlecomer Library contributed to the overall energy reduction.

YOU COULD LAP WEXFORD 43,000 TIMES WITH ENERGY SAVED

Wexford saved 269 million cups of tea or the amount of energy used by a typical family petrol car doing 43000 laps of the Wexford county boundary, reducing CO2 emissions by 2149 tonnes through avoided energy use, delivering a saving of 39.7%. The spectrum of projects and initiatives implemented by the Wexford County Council to achieve energy efficiency include the public lighting energy efficiency project whereby 91% of public lights across the county were replaced with more energy efficient LED bulbs. This gave a 65% reduction in energy use and 60% savings in operation and maintenance costs. Energy upgrades in Bunclody Fire Station, Gorey Library and the Council’s Machinery Yard all delivered substantial energy savings. The Council has also started transitioning their fleet to electric vehicles to further support the national policy and decarbonise local communities making them healthier and better places to live in.

 

3CEA CEO, Paddy Phelan added that “While local authorities in the region have done much to achieve lower C02 emissions by 2030, individual counties working under the Sustainable Energy Action Plans need to step up across Transport, Agriculture, Industry and Community.”

STEPS Engineers Week 2022

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Run by the Engineers Ireland STEPS (Science, Technology and Engineering Programme for Schools,) the event celebrates the world of engineering with primary and secondary pupils. The main aim is to promote engineering, and show the importance of the profession.

As part of STEPS Engineer’s Week 2022, 3cea energy engineers Grainne Kennedy, Tracey Turner, Stephen McCormick, Johan Muller and Ketan Malik visited schools across the southeast to showcase the exciting world of energy engineering.

Pupils from Bennekerry PS, Queen of the Universe NS, Rathoe NS, Newtown NS, ST.Senan’s PS, Castletown NS, and Dungarvan College all engaged in a variety of exciting topics around sustainable energy engineering.

Energy Engineer Gráinne Kennedy visited Ms Rice and Ms Sullivans 5th classes in Bennekerry on March 9th to talk about all things engineering. Gráinne spoke to the students about all the different ways that engineering made our lives easier and then looked at what we will have to do in the future to save energy and produce cleaner energy. The students were full of great questions such as “can you use water to produce energy?” and “what will the tractors of the future use for fuel?”. The conversation went over time and it was decided that 3cea would have to come back and visit another day.

Junior Energy Engineer Tracey Turner talked with 5th and 6th Class students at Queen of the Universe school in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow. They had a really nice time chatting about engineers in general to begin with and then focused on what Tracey does as an Energy Engineer. Tracey explained that she was pleased to hear that the majority of the 5th class girls said they liked and enjoyed maths. They also chatted about different forms of energy, both renewable and non-renewable, and the types of materials that go into buildings and how heated energy can be lost through different constructions. 5th class had made a circuit in class prior to Tracey’s arrival, they used a battery, copper tape and an LED bulb – simple but very effective. They finished by talking about how the stored energy in the battery transforms into light energy because as we know – energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it simply transforms from one state into another. It’s quite magical really.

It is safe to say the future is bright for budding energy engineers in the Southeast.

If your school would like to get involved and take part in the next Engineers Week, express your interest via contact@3cea.ie

Irelands First Community-Owned EV Charging Point / Callan Community Energy Company

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In December 2021, Callan Community Energy with support from 3cea, opened a new solar-powered EV charging station in the Callan Supervalue carpark.  This fantastic project will provide up to 22kw of fast charging capability to support Callan resident’s transition to electric vehicles. This community-owned EV charge point is the first of its kind in Ireland. A huge congratulation to Callan Community Energy for working hard to deliver this project.

In this short video, Adrian Lyons from Callan Community Energy explains the project and the benefits it has produced for the local community in Callan.

If your community wants to take the leap into renewable energy but don’t know where to start, get in contact with 3cea now to find out how we can help.

Additionally, you can watch our 6 part webinar series aimed at helping your community understand what opportunities there are for renewable energy projects and how to avail of funding, with guest speakers from community groups who have become Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) and experts in renewable energy. A fantastic resource for anyone starting their renewable energy journey.

 

SEAI Solar PV for Business Guide

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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have published their latest guide on Solar PV to help your business understand solar PV technology and to support you to deliver a solar PV project. It explores the key areas of site suitability, as well as the technological and practical issues involved in a typical solar PV project.
This guide is a fantastic starting point for any business interested in adopting Solar as part of their energy supply.

Read the Guide

Solar PV will play a pivotal role in the nation’s Climate Action commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050.

The southeast receives more light energy from the sun than any other region, which means businesses in the southeast have the potential to generate more solar energy than other regions of the country.

New Date Confirmed! Free webinar to highlight local opportunities for renewable energy projects

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Organisers have now confirmed a new date, the new event date is scheduled on Thursday, 2nd December 2021 at 9:30-11:30.

More communities than ever before are coming together to develop renewable energy projects in their own localities, according to a Kilkenny-based energy engineer. A recent study conducted by Mullan Grid Consulting, for 3cea with funding from Kilkenny Leader Partnership, highlights the electricity grid’s capacity for renewable energy projects in County Kilkenny.

Register here: https://webinar-on-the-kilkenny-grid-study-findings.eventbrite.ie

Agenda

• 9:30am – Part 1 – Introduction

• 9:40am – Grid Study Findings

• 10:20am – Q&A

• 10:30am – Break

• 10:45am – Part 2 – Introduction

• 10:50am – Community Renewable Project

• 11:30am – Q&A

• 11:45am – End

After registering, you will receive further information from the team about joining the Event.

The event will be hosted on Zoom.

If you would like to be updated on when that event will be please email events@3cea.ie

 

 

The first session, hosted by Rory Mullan of electrical engineering consultancy Mullan Grid Consulting, will discuss the findings of a recent grid study carried out in the Kilkenny area. All energy produced by a renewable energy project must be transported via the grid to homes and businesses across the country. For a community renewable energy project to be feasible, there must be capacity available in the grid to take the energy produced. This session will help attendees to identify if there is an opportunity to connect to the grid in their area. They can also see where the ideal location for a renewable energy project would be.

Part two of the webinar will be presented by Tom Bruton, of BioXl, an energy consultancy with expertise in renewable energy. It will look at the key steps and considerations a community must take in the development of a renewable energy project, such as securing land rights, constraint mapping, planning assessments and submission, grid application submission, payment milestones, qualifying and tendering for auction, preparing legal structures and community investment proposals.

Gráinne Kennedy of independent energy agency 3cea (3 Counties Energy Agency) said that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has experienced one of its busiest years on record in terms of the growing number of community groups that they are working with to reduce energy costs and cut down on harmful carbon emissions:

“What we have particularly noticed is a dramatic increase in community groups and organisations who are actively seeking information on how to undertake energy efficiency retrofits – be they community centres, sports clubs, parish committees, childcare centres, community health organisations such as organisations that provide accommodation and supports to the elderly, national schools …. the list is growing by the week.

“It’s a win-win situation for these groups and organisations. Through the SEAI Sustainable Energy Community programme that 3cea delivers, they’re supported with capital funding, partnerships and technical support on energy saving projects. And now, with the introduction of the government’s Renewable Energy Support Scheme, communities can set up their own solar farm or wind farm and sell that power to the national grid. Given that so many communities are taking an interest in their carbon footprint, the demand for information about community renewable energy projects has never been greater.”

To meet this demand, 3cea with the support of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership has organised a two-part online webinar aimed specifically at community groups in Kilkenny who are interested in developing a renewable energy project. The event takes place at 9.30am and 10.45am on Tuesday, June 22 through Zoom and community groups and representatives can register for this FREE online webinar at http://3cea.ie/event/

For more information on 3cea’s range of community programmes, visit: https://3cea.ie/sectors/community/

The Kilkenny Grid Study is available here for communities who wish to see the potential in their area for a renewable energy project.

To learn more about our community group projects, visit our communities page here.