SEAI Celebrates 300 Sustainable Communities with 4th Annual National Sustainable Energy Community Event in Athlone
On Saturday the 22nd of June 2019, the SEAI welcomed sustainable energy advocates from all parts of the country to Athlone Institute of Technology for its fourth annual National Sustainable Energy Community Event. This event celebrated community involvement in SEAI’s Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) program.
There are over 300 SEC network members in Ireland at the moment, each community at varying stages of the journey to becoming more sustainable and taking control of their energy use.
3CEA Senior Energy Engineer Alex Hamilton was delighted to attend the SEC event and join the conversation as we are now facing an enormous challenge in relation to climate change. In fact, the new climate action plan outlines plans for 1500 SECs. Leading energy transition is dependent on the commitment & passion at community level. Watch this space.
Julie O’Neill welcoming everyone to the fourth Annual National Sustainable Energy Community Event in Athlone Institute of Technology, 22nd of June 2019. Ireland is now facing an enormous challenge in relation to climate change.
One of the key messages from speaker Soren Hermansen from Samsø, Denmark. “Community ownership and leadership – trust is critical.” Samsø island in Denmark is now energy independent & 100% renewable.
SEC Goals
An SEC community has three major goals: utilise reusable energy; develop smart energy solutions; and a commitment to being energy efficient. It also often consists of members from all parts of society, including sports clubs, community centres, private residences, and businesses. This program has seen rapid growth since action can occur at multiple levels, allowing towns and villages to comprehensively reduce both their energy use and subsequent impact on the environment.
SEAI provides the SEC network with a multitude of resources and benefits that it hopes will encourage other communities to make the commitment to sustainable energy. These resources include: access to funding, energy savings, financial savings, access to expert knowledge and support and increased local employment. The SEC program demonstrates how every aspect of society can play a valuable part in moving Ireland toward to an even greener future.
Read more about Kilkenny Community Energy here.
For more information, visit: https://www.seai.ie/
*Reference: http://council.ie/seai-celebrates-300-sustainable-communities-with-fourth-annual-national-sustainable-energy-community-event/
