Presentation to Clare Local Development about developing Community Energy Initiatives

1. eTownz:
Developing Community
Energy Initiatives
Gearóid Fitzgibbon, eTownz/SEAI
31st January 2019 @7.30pm-9.30pm

2. 1. The Energy Transition and the local
development potential of energy for
your community
2. Community Energy Planning and
SEAI Supports
Key Messages

5. To engage and
empower
Communities
Part of Ireland’s Energy Policy (2015-2030)

6. SEAI’s
Sustainable
Energy
Communities
Network
Map of current
members
www.seai.ie/sec

7. “Give me a lever and a solid point, and I will move the Earth” -
Archimedes
Leveraging resources

9. An opportunity for the local economy, community and
environment
• Save money and save energy
• Improve public wellbeing through enhanced comfort
from energy efficient buildings
• Boost local employment
• Promote community building - Build capacity and
leverage funding
• Contribute to national energy transition & climate
targets
Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)

10. Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)
Investing in Renewables
Investing in Saving
Reducing Use
The path to sustainable energy

11. The Erris SEC
The Erris Community
-850 km2 (similar size to Rome with a population
of 2.5m)
-Population :10,000 (Lowest Population Density in
Western Europe)
-Small Rural Gaeltacht Area in NW Ireland
-Strong Community Spirit

12. The Erris SEC
Erris Better Energy Communities 2014
• 14 Community Groups, Project Value €350,000
• 2 electric vans for local “Meals on Wheels”
• 2 x 7kW solar arrays
• 10 buildings insulated
• 9 buildings heating system upgrades
• 7 buildings EE lighting
• 28 Quantum storage Heaters

13. The Erris SEC
Erris Better Energy Communities 2015
• 12 Community Groups, Project Value €385,700
• Western Care: 3 x buildings retrofitted
• Irish Wheelchair Association: 11kW PV
• 6 x National Schools retrofitted
• Micro grid incorporating 11 kW PV, 6 kW battery,
6x storage heaters

14. The Erris SEC
Year Total Cost No. of Groups Structure of Funding KWhs Saved
Annual Electrical
Savings (15c/kWh)
Annual Thermal
Savings (5c/kWh)
2014 €340,163 14
50% SEAI BEC
40% Community Gain Fund
10% Community Groups
194,143 €29,121 n/a
2015 €385,729 10
50% SEAI BEC
40% Community Gain Fund
10% Community Groups
323,624 €48,543 n/a
2016 €402,777 50 homes
80% SEAI BEC
20% Home Owners
373,470 n/a €18,673

15. Energy Efficiency and Insulation – a tool
for Local Community Development

16. From:
a conversation
in Drombane
Village Hall
Concerts
Dream Machine &
Disneyland trips
Awards &
Dream Ball
Family
holidays
What concerts?
How many?
A little detail?
More details?
To:
set up of Energy
Communities Tipperary
Cooperative (ECTC)
REPRESENTING 8
community Energy Teams
600 homes–25 community buildings–4.75 million kWh
ECTC - energy efficiency
Progress 2011-2018
€8.5 million INVESTMENT - €4.5 million SEAI funding

17. Works carried out
 Upgrades to buildings (Homes, community, churches etc)
 Insulation i.e. attic, walls (external & internal)
 Ventilation & heat recovery systems
 Replacement of all single glazed windows *
 Replacement of external doors *
 Renewable Energy
 Solar hot water & wind
 Heat pumps
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

18. Works carried out
 Heating Upgrades
Installation of standalone solid fuel stoves
Upgrade of boilers i.e. pellets/biomass or
oil (high efficiency)
Upgraded controls i.e. zoned heating, room
thermostats
Chimney Draught Excluder
Lighting i.e. LEDs
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

19. Challenges
 Value for Money issues (Cost v Social)
 Narrow windows for project delivery
put risk on community actors
 Changes in the Wider Economy
 Differing priorities of SEAI and
communities
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

20. ECTC clg = 8 Member communities
Drombane – Upperchurch Energy Team
Lorrha Rathcabbin Energy Team
Kilcommon Rearcross Energy Group
Cappamore Community Development
Birdhill Tidy Towns
Burgess Energy Team
Terryglass Tidy Towns
Kilbarron
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

22. 8
COMMUNITY
ENERGY
TEAMS

23. Community Cooperative & Partners

24. Community energy planning

26. SEC
Network
Member
Stage 1 Partnership
Foundation
Stage 2 Partnership
Implementation
Learn Plan Do
Learn
• Set SEC goals (Energy
Charter)
• Apply for Energy Plan
funding
• Provide supporting
documents
(Declaration of
Financial Resources &
De Minimus)
• Letter of Offer Plan
• Complete Energy Plan
• Complete register of
opportunities and key
priorities.
• Request Payment
• Request additional
support if required
Do
• Apply for SEC Grant
funding
• Find project
coordinator and
become a partner
with a group SEC
grant application
• Complete project
Community
Mentor – up to 4
days
Community Mentor
+ Energy Plan
Funding (€10k-€25k)
Capital funding (up
to €200k)
+ Community Mentor
+ Other supports

28. Getting things done
What is your picture of success? What would an early win look
like? Balance short and longer term goals.
Deciding Your Delivery Mode
• Find a delivery model appropriate to your SEC
• Will it be fully Community-Led? Corporate led? A
Partnership? Implications for governance?
Start up Funding
• How to pay for SEC/BEC application?
• Who will be lead applicant/project coordinator?
Co-ordination
How to ensure oversight and accountability?

29. Next Steps
• Join the Sustainable Energy Communities Network www.seai.ie/SEC
• Shortlink to the online registration form to www.bit.ly/seconlinereg
• Resources to Follow up
• SEC Handbook, Resource & Funding database
• SEAI www.EnergyinEducation.ie
• SEAI Energy in Business Free training for businesses business@seai.ie
• The Wheel/EPA Sustainable Communities Funding and Governance
Handbooks
• Census 2016 map tool census.cso.ie/sapmap
• Energy Master Plan and Energy Mapping tools
• RESCOOP.eu – European network of Community Energy Projects

30. Western Development Commission
• State agency who are adapting & leading change
• Today the WDC is working with regional, national and
international partners to enable job and enterprise
growth in the Western Region
• Renewable energy research
• Access to finance: Western Investment Fund
• Insight and analysis: Policy Team
• Regional Development Team
• Creative economy projects

31. Western Development Commission
Community Loan Fund
• Loan amounts ranging from €10k to €100k are considered
• Interest rate of 3% for community groups
• Projects must be able to demonstrate repayment capacity
• We seek projects with formal legal status which can demonstrate strong
community spirit, committed personnel and which deliver a positive social
impact
• Bridging Finance can also be provided for approved Leader Grants at a rate of
1%, subject to conditions.
• Application form available online together with requirements for application

32. Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)
Your Mid-West SECs Contacts:
Tipperary Energy Agency
Gearoid Fitzgibbon. Tel. 085 7409023, E:
fitzgibbong@gmail.com
Ballyhoura Development
David O’Grady. Tel. 063-91739, E: dogrady@ballyhoura.org
Tonya Ní Chuirrín. Tel. 063-20517, E:
tnichuirrin@ballyhoura.org
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership
/Trish Purcell, Tel. 067-56676, E: mryan@ntlp.ie
tpurcell@ntlp.ie
For more information:
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) -
Sustainable Energy Communities www.seai.ie/SEC/