Getting started as a Sustainable Energy Community

Gearóid Fitzgibbon and Conor O’Brien

Community Energy Mentors

MidWest SouthWest RegionThurs April 30th 7.30-9pm

• Energy Transition-What’s in it for Communities?

• What Supports are available?

• What kind of work can be done?

• Why do a local Energy Plan?

• Getting people involved and moving forward

• Case Studies of 2 Community Energy groups

Key Points

• Signposting and introductions - 10 minutes- One from each SEC introduces (Name, name of group, where group is at:: e.g Just joined, early stage, EMP application)

• Getting started as an SEC - 20 minutes

– Questions- 10 minutes

• Case Studies - 10 minutes

• Concluding Discussion and next steps - 10 minutesRunning time - 1 hour approx

Agenda

• Add your group name to your profile name on the call

• Keep yourself on “MUTE” until you are speaking

• Use chat box for questions, suggestions, comments

• Be nice & keep it respectful!

(p.s. that doesn’t mean not asking hard questions!)

Zoom & Webcall etiquette!

MWSW Community MentorsRegional Coordinator

Ballyhoura Development - Catherine Smyth

Lead Mentors

Tipperary - Gearóid Fitzgibbon;

Limerick - Sean Sweeney (Ballyhoura);

Clare - Dóirín Graham (Clare Local Development)

Cork City - Kieran Lettice (Energy Cork)

Cork County - Conor O’Brien

Kerry - Xavier Dubuisson (XDConsulting);

- Seamus O’Hara (North East West Kerry Development)

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) - Sustainable Energy

Communities Programme www.seai.ie/SEC/

• Signposting and introductions - 10 minutes- One person from each SEC introduce themselves

CLICK UNMUTE

Name

Name of group

Where group is at: e.g Just joined, early stage, EMP application

CLICK MUTE

Introductions

To engage and empower

Communities

Part of Ireland’s Energy Policy (2015-2030)

Ireland spends €5.7bn* per year

on imported fossil fuels from North Africa and the Middle East

ResidentialTransportIndustry

Where Energy meets Community

What motivation for communities?

An opportunity for the local economy, community and environment

• Save money and save energy

• Boost local employment (e.g. in local retrofit schemes)

• Wellbeing – more comfortable & energy efficient buildings

• More self-sufficient communities

• Contribute to the energy transition & help counter climate change

Become an “SEC”

A Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) is:

● a partnership with SEAI to develop a sustainable energy system for the benefit of the community.

● achieved through:■energy efficiency■renewable energy■development of localised energy supply

● with technical and financial supports from SEAI to member communities.

Map of current memberswww.seai.ie/sec

Join the network

A diverse network of skills and interestsThe network is very diverse, with a variety of interests and skills in each community. Here is a sample of the types of communities and organisations you will find in our network.

Development Associations, Community Councils & Residents' Associations,Tidy Towns Committees

Housing AssociationsSuburban community organisationsLocal environmental groupsThird level institutions

County councilsBusiness groups

These can be in:Rural parishes and villagesSmall rural towns

Large urban centres

What

supports are

available ?

Energy Master Plan €10 ,000 to €25,000

Participation in SEAI Grant funded projects - e.g. Better Energy Community, Warmer Homes Scheme, National Retrofit Scheme??

Community Mentor - Support to apply for and complete Energy Plan

Technical Support from National MentorsUpcoming SEAI Online Training - Starting 5th MayEnergy Efficiency, Smart Energy, Renewable Energy, Renewable Heat, Sustainable Transport, Integrated Planning, Community Engagement, Strategic Financing, Home Energy Saving Tips, Media Training

Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)

⮚Investing in Renewables

⮚Investing in Saving

⮚Reducing Use

The path to sustainable energy How?

Who’s involved?Strong SEC groups have:

•A defined organisational structure in a geographical are or common field of interest

•Strong commitment from a mix of community “stakeholders”

•A balance between energy-efficiency and renewable projects

Strong SEC groups also:

•get people working together and has community backing

•have good reach across different sectors

•have clear community benefit - the project is inclusive and proposing solutions appropriate to the wider community needs

Getting people involved!

Actions to move your SEC forward:

• Reach out to other individuals and groups in your area

• Engaging your community in the current situation:

- Chat on WhatsApp group,

- Video call on Skype or Zoom,

- group emails, local newsletter,

• Have an information event for householders

• Bring in a speaker to motivate interest

Moving things forwardLearn: Awareness & Motivation:

• Get the benefits of the SEC Network. Join at www.seai.ie/sec

• Learn from other groups www.seai.ie/sec

Carry our your local Energy Plan:

• CONTACT YOUR MENTOR! Apply for Energy Plan funding (worth €10k) – with support from your SEAI Community Energy Mentor

• Receive Letter of Offer (approx 2 months from application)

• Procure Energy Planning services

• Carry out Energy Plan and identify suitable projects.

• National Community event (Aug 29th)

• SEC Newsletter from SEAI

• Ongoing info on funding

• Partnerships and exchange

• Learning opportunities (study tours, thematic workshops, etc.)

Learning from the SEC Network

Using the SEAI resources

Top Tips for SECs○ Tailor your SEC ambition to it’s capacities - Build on

existing strengths and be clear on community benefits○ Set good short to mid term goals - have a number of

early “wins” for the project.○ Engage early on with existing support structures: local

development company, local authority - Identify help and funding available to assist SEC project development.

○ Identify a member with good head for sourcing funding and dealing with associated paperwork!

○ Who will do Works? Think about Delivery-EARLY ON!○ Rely on your mentors!

Your Community Energy Mentors

Limerick, Clare, TipperaryGearóid Fitzgibbon. T: 085 7409023, E: fitzgibbong@gmail.com

Sean Sweeney. Tel. 087-6360117, E: ssweeney@ballyhoura.org (LK)

Dóirín Graham Tel. 065-6866800, E: dgraham@cldc.ie (Clare)

Cork/KerryConor O’Brien Tel. 087-9047810, E: conorobrien01@gmail.com

Kieran Lettice Tel. 086-8390445, E: kieran.lettice@energycork.ie

Xavier Dubuisson Tel. 086-0476124, E: xavier@xdconsulting.eu

Seamus O’Hara T. 087-123 2429, E: SeamusOHara@newkd.ie

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) - Sustainable Energy

Communities Programme www.seai.ie/SEC/

Ruth Buggie/Caoimhe McCarthy

01-8082098/sec@seai.ie

10 minute Q and A

Write your comments or questions in on the side,

or

Click the “raise hand” button on the webinar.

2 Case Studies• Case Study 1 - Glounthaune SEC• Case Study 2 - Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative

Glounthane SEC• Formed from Glounthaune Tidy Towns, Network member 2017• Applied for Energy Master Plan (EMP) Grant Sept 2017• Approved Feb 2018• Selection of Energy Consultant by tender Mar 2018• EMP started May 2018• Community Centre LED lights BEC scheme July 2018• EMP completed Dec 2018 (10 revisions)• Formal launch Feb 2019• 10 individual households initially engaged• Projects underway Kingdom Installations June 2019 to date• None completed thus far.

Energy Efficiency and Generation

– a Tool for Local Development

www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

The Energy Plan

Shortlink:www.bit.ly/tippenrg

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

827 homes–25 Community & Commercial buildings8.8 GWh of energy saved

ECTC - energy efficiency

Progress 2011-2019

€10.2 million INVESTMENT in communities

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 Improvements Group○ Kantoher○ Your community.. ???

www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

Community Cooperative & Partners

www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

SEAI Case Studies - BEC

wall insulation

1850 927 000

Concluding Exchange and Discussion

What other challenges have your group?

What else might you find helpful, as a group, by means of remote

support?

End of Presentation

Your Community Energy Mentors

Limerick, Clare, TipperaryGearóid Fitzgibbon. T: 085 7409023, E: fitzgibbong@gmail.com

Sean Sweeney. Tel. 087-6360117, E: ssweeney@ballyhoura.org (LK)

Dóirín Graham Tel. 065-6866800, E: dgraham@cldc.ie (Clare)

Cork/KerryConor O’Brien Tel. 087-9047810, E: conorobrien01@gmail.com

Kieran Lettice Tel. 086-8390445, E: kieran.lettice@energycork.ie

Xavier Dubuisson Tel. 086-0476124, E: xavier@xdconsulting.eu

Seamus O’Hara T. 087-123 2429, E: SeamusOHara@newkd.ie

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) - Sustainable Energy

Communities Programme www.seai.ie/SEC/

Ruth Buggie/Caoimhe McCarthy

01-8082098/sec@seai.ie

NotesWhat else might you find helpful, as a group, by means of remote

support?

Key points: