The document summarizes the work of the Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative (ECTC) which represents 8 community energy teams in Tipperary, Ireland. Over the period from 2011-2018, ECTC invested €8.5 million, with €4.5 million from SEAI funding, to upgrade 658 homes and 21 community buildings with energy efficiency measures. Upgrades included attic and wall insulation, window and door replacements, heating system upgrades, and renewable energy installations. ECTC statistics show the increasing number of homes and buildings upgraded each year, as well as rising energy savings and project spending. Challenges moving forward include balancing costs with social goals, managing tight project timelines, and adapting to changing economic

1. Energy Efficiency and Generation
– a Tool for Local Development
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie
presented by
Gearóid Fitzgibbon

2. 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
658 homes–21 community buildings–4.75 million kWh
ECTC - energy efficiency
Progress 2011-2018
€8.5 million INVESTMENT - €4.5 million SEAI funding

3. What community action can achieve
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie
22
28
111
135
126
200
136
-
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0
50
100
150
200
250
KWhSavings
Homes
Series5 Series6
2 32 5 6 30
Upgrades
Including:
- Homes
- Community
Halls
- Church
Buildings
- Sheltered
Housing

4. Buildings Upgraded
Domestic Dwellings
Community Halls
Church Buildings
Assisted Living Dwellings
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

5. Works carried out
 Upgrades to buildings
 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

6. 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

10. Good Technical Advice – Actions
suggested by TEA
 ACTION: Organise a meeting to let people know how to do this
ACTION: Arrange Clusters of
Houses to Access Home Energy
Savings Scheme Grants
 ACTION: Survey of forestry owners
 Age, type, management of plantations
 ACTION: Survey of home owners/businesses for wood fuel use
 ACTION: Energy Clinic in Sept/Oct for people to get information on
energy upgrades
© Tipperary Energy Agency Ltd (ww.tea.ie)

11. The Energy plan

12. Leveraging Local Resources
“Give me a lever and a solid point, and I will move the Earth” - Archimedes

13. Objectives – Social Economic Environmental
Improve householders living conditions i.e.
warmer, more efficient houses – alleviate fuel
poverty
Save money – through awareness of household
energy efficiency
Create jobs in the local communities
Use latest technology e.g. heat pumps,
thermodynamic panels etc
Reduce carbon footprint
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

14. 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
Working together to simplify
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

15. Complicated!!!

16. 8
COMMUNITY
ENERGY
TEAMS
Even
more
Complicated!!!

17. Community Cooperative & Partners

18. ECTC Statistics
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 TOTAL
Houses 22 28 111 135 126 200 150 572
Community 0 2 2 3 5 6 6 24
Project
Spend (in
thousands)
€115
k
€285
k
€857
k
€1.5
million
€1.5
million
€2.1
million
€1.5
million
€8.4
Energy Savings
KwH
240k 260k 208k 1,180k 947k 1029k 950K 4.75 million
Average Spend
per House
€3,50
0
€3,60
0
€9,50
0
€12,000 €11,500 €10,500 €11,500

20. 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

21. Further Plans….
2017 + Founder member of
Community Power Ireland
Autumn 2019: Recruitment of
Business Development Coordinator
- to animate communities and strengthen
board
- to drive generation opportunities.
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie

22. Going Forward…
Involve communities in Programme Design
It’s not just about ENERGY!!!
Capacity & Involvement: Meet local
ambition with support for winning delivery
models
Regional support agencies
Local Authorities, not Communities, to be
the main drivers of Local Energy Planning
www.energycommunitiestipp.ie
*Challenges highlighted in Sept 2018 Submission to SEAI.ie

23. “Lunchtime
atop
Drombane”
Circa 2012