This presentation about Templederry Community Wind Farm was delivered by Paul Kenny, at the Manage Energy event 'Energy Agencies & Energy Services of Regional Authorities'

1. Templederry Community Windfarm
Lessons and Visions.
Paul Kenny
CEO,
Tipperary Energy Agency

2. • Templederry c. 900 population.
• Upland, surrounded by hills,
population decline, few jobs.
• 1999 village development plan
identified RES.
• 2001 TEA completed feasibility
on wind, AD, biomass, hydro.
• Wind chosen, sought community
investors.
Origins

3. • Public meetings
• Press & pulpit announcements.
• Wind was unseen & unknown
• 27 shareholders invested €500.
• Three free shares: TEA & 2x
Community co-op.
• A further ~10k per person
invested, and several loans
(personal guarantee) over 11
years.
Origins: Community

4. • 2003: Planning & Grid
permissions.
• Grid pause until 2007.
• Needed new planning. 2007-
2010.
• 2010-2011 financial crisis
• 2012 April civils started.
• 2012 Nov. commissioned.
• 35GWh produced.
Delays & risks.

5. • Senior Debt: DeLag Landen
(Rabo) (71%)
• Equity finance from Equity tax
scheme in ireland. (25%)
• Local grants 1%
• Community funded 3%
“Communities should use finance
like everyone else”
Finance

6. • Three good wind years
• Above projections
• Maintenance & costs.
• >1000 Visitors
• Follower communities
• Kids (local & national),
• Bankers,
• Ministers,
• 15 EU countries
• Goodwill
•
Templederry 2 Years on

7. • Community developer = commercial developer
• Planning process could be more collaborative.
• Phase one better time for open dialogue
• Local community owned should be supported
• Planning rejected after significant cost.
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Phase 2
From Left to right:
John Fogarty, Chair Templederry
Windfarm.
Minister For Communications, Energy
and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D.
Minister For Environment Alan Kelly T. D,
Pat O’Donoghue, Co Chair & landowner
of Templederry Windfarm

8. Energy Supplier
• Decided early on to cut out middle men
• Currently buying renewable power
• PPA’s on offer.
• Aim to allow communities to purchase & sell
power.
• 1st Employee (Sept 2015).
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9. Solar Developer
• Ireland currently in a Solar Frenzy
• Large Solar developers speculating.
• Templederry planning one development.
• Needs Government support (FIT).
• Need to speculate like a developer or will be
left behind.
• Windfarm revenues supporting speculation.
• Supporting other community groups
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10. Lessons
• Community participation Not Community
acceptance.
• Clear distance between citizen ownership &
government policies.
• The rule of the market Vs service to society.
• Steep learning curve needs support (Scottish
government have a strong offering – the nub
of local energy action).
• Widespread opposition to onshore wind
incompatible with climate goals.
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