Our CEO, Paul Kenny's presentation at the Empowering Energy Citizens workshop organised by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

1. Empowering Energy
Citizens Through
Communities
Paul Kenny, B.E. C. Eng.
Chief Executive
Tipperary Energy Agency
Energy Green/ White Paper
4th of November 2014

2. • Tipperary Energy Communities retrofit ~ 70%
homes signed up.
• Aran Islands similar at 60+%
• Why do citizens get involved:
• For the good of themselves (savings/ comfort)
• For the good of their community (jobs / costs)
• Because it is a community activity.
• Once engaged, always engaged.
Community Energy Engages

3. Community Energy Delivers Value
85,702
90,036
148,559
Value to Local Economy / MW / Annum
Non Local Spend
Local Spend
Ownership Revenue
Ownership
Benefit Accruing
to Local
* Based on real figures for one project. NPV assuming 20 year life time

4. Danish vision of community energy
- Engages people and their savings
- Empowers decisions
- Owns infrastructure – DH, Wind, Solar
District Heating must be consumer owned – i.e. community
Planned Tralee District Heating
- 100M revenue over 20 years
- All locally sourced energy.
- Equivalent of 135 sustainable jobs.
- 13,000 T CO2 (per annum)
Community Energy Delivers Scale

5. We need a long term plan.
- Energiewiende/ Danish 2050.
- Widely consulted so politicians and citizens buy into it.
We need carrots and sticks
- Carbon tax, E.T.S
- Ring fenced or returned
We need supports:
- Supports for community engagement and project development
(Community energy office, Scotland)
- Directed and subsidised finance (KFW energy construction/
renovation.
- Community access to grid, Co-development with developers
Policy Requirements

6. • Non profit, public good enterprise
• Partnership approach
• Energy management
• Renewable energy and energy
efficiency
• Procurement, project mgmt.
• Cost effective, value driven
• Paul Kenny
• Chief Executive
• T: 052 7443090
• F: 052 7443012
• E: pkenny@tea.ie
• W: www.tea.ie
Tipperary Energy Agency