Session 1 Ruth Buggie - SEAI National Energy Research & Policy Conference 2022

1. www.seai.ie
National Energy
Research and Policy
Conference 2022
Societal Transformation

2. www.seai.ie
Energy Communities
Leading Societal
Transformation

3. • Sustainable Energy Communities
Network of 700 communities, supported with mentors, training
and energy master planning grants
• Better Energy Communities
Panel of project coordinators who can deliver large scale energy
retrofit projects (circa €100M/year)
• Renewable Energy Communities
Community category for large scale community led generation
projects with trusted advisors and early stage grant support
• Mandatory Community Benefit funds
Communities near new large scale wind and solar, onshore and
offshore projects will have access to €1-2 Bn over the coming
decades that could support climate action ambitions
Supporting Communities – what is happening
3 www.seai.ie

4. Communities leading local action and contributing to
national ambition of a zero carbon future
With:
▪ Community access to reliable funding sources and
technical resources from which they can build local
projects with enduring community benefit
▪ Adaptable/flexible models to suit each community
▪ Local capacity building to support the delivery of
community ambition
▪ Excellent demonstration projects, building confidence
▪ New finance models to support longer term projects
and realizing bigger impacts
Future Vision
4 www.seai.ie

5. Energy
Communities
Long term
strategy
Clear
funding
options
Socially
inclusive
climate
action
Just
Transition
Local skills
and
capacity
Projects of
enduring
value
Opportunities
5 www.seai.ie
Community
Generation
Projects Peer to Peer
electricity
projects
Economic
benefits
Climate
Action Plans
Home
retrofits
Sustainable
Transport
Local
Development
Plans
Energy
Resilience
and security
PPN
Local
Authority
support

6. Energy and climate action can be an enabler of other community ambitions e.g.
• Better health from better air quality
• Reduced energy poverty
• More economic activity in local business
• Lower congestion and noise
• Improved social interaction and cohesion with better facilities available at lower cost
BUT - it needs an all of society approach to build a cohesive response with a clear value proposition for all sectors
It is an important role that goes beyond the volunteer model
There is a need to build capacity at all levels, this will take time and lots of people
Huge changes in energy security and energy costs concerns can eclipse climate and sustainability targets
Challenges
6 www.seai.ie

7. • How do we build capacity in local communities?
• What is the appropriate role(s) for communities to
undertake?
• How to we achieve local consensus on climate
priorities?
• How do we invert the administration burden away from
communities?
• What is the right balance between local agencies and
local communities?
Important research questions/areas of focus to support societal transformation for Ireland’s energy revolution
• Balance of structured models and flexible solutions
• Financial instruments that can support communities
beyond grants
• Models of funding to fully support community projects
• Building climate and energy literacy
• Ensure people first approach
7 www.seai.ie

8. Key policy needs/enablers to support societal transformation for Ireland’s energy revolution
8 www.seai.ie
Easy Flexible Balanced Inclusive

9. www.seai.ie
For more information please contact:
Ruth Buggie
ruth.buggie@seai.ie
01-808 2024
www.seai.ie
Thank You