Duncan Stewart keeps an eco-eye on Kilkenny

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Duncan Stewart keeps an eco-eye on Kilkenny – Booking now open for the free Green for Micro conference

Irish environmentalist Duncan Stewart, well-known as the host of RTÉ’s Eco Eye since 2002, will offer his expertise and guidance to businesses across Kilkenny. Exclusively available to businesses in the South East, enterprises are invited to attend the free Green for Micro conference on Friday 15th October at 9.30 am, hosted online via Zoom. To register visit: www.localenterprise.ie/Kilkenny

The Green for Micro conference offers a unique opportunity to learn how to cut harmful emissions and make significant energy and bottom-line savings. It aims to support small businesses in the South East and break down environmental and sustainability challenges for their business.

Keynote speaker, Duncan Stewart, will share his insights on how vital it is for businesses to address environmental issues within their business and how this will ensure the sustainability of small enterprises into the future. Expert speakers from 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea) and the Southern Region Waste Management office will share useful tips on how to make simple changes, for example, how to manage waste in your business and how to access funding support for greener practises. The panel of speakers will demonstrate how investing time and resources in green issues will ultimately benefit small businesses.

The programme will begin with an introduction and welcome from Fiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny. She commented, “We want to encourage small businesses to learn more about how they can help Ireland move toward a greener net-zero economy. Beyond that, sustainable decisions make financial sense. We hope people will join us on October 15th to find out more.”

Grainne Kennedy, Energy Engineer, 3cea said, “Even the smallest change in a businesses’ consciousness and tweaks to its manufacturing processes can make a big difference. Any business of any size can have a profound effect on the environment. We’re looking forward to telling people about the South East Green for Micro programme and how they can access funding to start their green journey today.”

Led by the Local Enterprise Offices in the South East, in partnership with 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea), the South East Green for Micro programme was launched in April 2019, funded by Enterprise Ireland to assist local businesses with their low carbon transition.  3cea, an independent, not-for-profit energy agency, offered technical assistance for the project, helping participating enterprises examine their energy, waste, water, procurement and transport needs and make more informed, environmentally-friendly choices.

 

For more information about energy grants available in the South East, visit www.3cea.ie. To learn more about the Green for Micro conference on Friday 15th October at 9.30 am, hosted online, visit: www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny

 

Register Now for an Information Session on Energy Grants and Supports

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Join us online on the 21st September from 1-2pm as we discuss funding opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. What makes a good grant application? Who is eligible for funding? What measures are supported? Our highly experienced senior energy expert Alex will provide helpful tips and what you need to do to be successful. She will be covering everything from preparing for your application to best practice advice!

Businesses, SMEs, Farmers, Tidy Towns Groups, Co-operatives, Community Groups, Schools, Sports Clubs, Public Sector, Housing Associations and other groups are urged to attend the free information webinar as it is expected that the SEAI grant scheme will receive a high level of interest.

Grants are available through SEAI, who provide up to 50% funding for community projects, not for profits, charities, housing associations. And up to 30% funding for businesses, public sector, SMEs, industrial & commercial sector.

Ask the Expert

3cea’s Energy Engineer & Expert Alex Hamilton will provide helpful tips on how to access the funding for your energy project and what you need to do to be successful. Alex will take you through the grant application process in detail, the criteria and timelines and how to maximise the return on your investment.

What’s involved?

This one-hour Zoom session will run on the 21st of September from 1pm-2pm and is open to everyone with an interest in sustainability and community energy but will be of particular relevance to organisations and community groups looking to progress their identified energy projects.

The SEAI’s Better Energy Communities programme will be soon open for grant applications and we are urging applicants to get in touch with us now for the upcoming funding call. In the south east region the SEAI grant application is administered by the 3 Counties Energy Agency www.3cea.ie.

This event is the first step for interested organisations and businesses to understand what it takes to apply for energy grant funding for your project and what supports are available to achieve such a project. This session will offer a chance for all attendee’s to

• Understand the SEAI Grant process and what’s involved

• Ask the expert to gather feedback

• Meet the 3cea team project managing your energy project

How to register?

REGISTER HERE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This event is the first step for interested organisations and businesses to understand what it takes to apply for energy grant funding for your project and what supports are available to achieve such a project.

What is SEAI’s Better Energy Communities Grant?

Better Energy Communities (BEC) is a national retrofit initiative managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). BEC offers a win-win grant aid solution for businesses, SMEs, parish halls, GAA clubs, hotels, farmers, charitable organisations, community groups, Tidy Towns Groups, public authorities, individuals and sports clubs to both lower their energy bills while reducing energy usage.

The SEAI’s Better Energy Communities programme will be soon open for grant applications and we are accepting applicants for the upcoming funding call. In the south east region the SEAI grant application process is administered by the 3 Counties Energy Agency www.3cea.ie.

How 3cea can help?

• 3cea team are well experience in writing successful grant applications that have tight deadlines and require a high level of technical information and paperwork.

• Our team of energy experts will help you manage the complex parts of the grant application and will be here to take your through the process from start to finish.

• Our mission is to act on your behalf to provide you with the resource, expertise and knowledge to help move your energy efficiency projects forward in the south east region.

• Our aim is to make energy efficiency improvements as simple as possible, to help you save money on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. The quickest and most simplest way of reducing harmful emissions is investing in energy efficiency.

• Over the past 8 years, we’ve been successful in securing energy grant funding across all sectors. We have assisted in the delivery of cumulative energy savings of more than €19.6 million through the Communities Energy Grant (BEC) initiative.

For any further information contact Mari or Patrick at events@3cea.ie or 056 779 0856.

Get in contact with our team on https://3cea.ie/bec-contact/ or email us at bec@3cea.ie indicating your interest and we will be in touch.

Communities putting shoulder to wheel with renewable energy projects

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More communities than ever before are coming together to develop renewable energy projects in their own localities, according to a Kilkenny-based energy engineer.

Gráinne Kennedy of independent energy agency 3cea (3 Counties Energy Agency) said that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has experienced one of its busiest years on record in terms of the growing number of community groups that they are working with to reduce their energy costs and cut down on harmful carbon emissions:

“What we have particularly noticed in recent years is a dramatic increase in community groups and organisations who are actively seeking information on how to undertake energy efficiency retrofits – be they community centres, sports clubs, parish committees, childcare centres, community health organisations such as organisations that provide accommodation and supports to the elderly, national schools …. the list is growing by the week.

“It’s a win-win situation for these groups and organisations. Through the SEAI Sustainable Energy Community programme that 3cea delivers, they’re supported with capital funding, partnerships and technical support on energy saving projects. And now with the introduction of the government’s Renewable Energy Support Scheme, communities can set up their own solar farm or wind farm and sell that power to the national grid. Given that so many communities are taking an interest in their carbon footprint, the demand for information about community renewable energy projects has never been greater.”

To meet this demand, 3cea with the support of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership has organised a two-part online webinar aimed specifically at community groups in Kilkenny who are interested in developing a renewable energy project. The event takes place at 9.30am and 10.45am on Tuesday, 22nd June through Zoom and community groups and representatives can register for this FREE online webinar at http://bit.ly/KilkennyGridStudy.

The first session, hosted by Rory Mullan of electrical engineering consultancy Mullan Grid Consulting, will discuss the findings of a recent grid study carried out in the Kilkenny area. All energy produced by a renewable energy project must be transported via the grid to homes and businesses across the country. For a community renewable energy project to be feasible there must be capacity available in the grid to take the energy produced. This session will help attendees to identify if there is an opportunity to connect to the grid in their area. They can also see where the ideal location for a renewable energy project would be.

Part two of the webinar will be presented by Tom Bruton, of BioXl, an energy consultancy with expertise in renewable energy. It will look at the key steps and considerations a community must take in the development of a renewable energy project, such as securing land rights, constraint mapping, planning assessments and submission, grid application submission, payment milestones, qualifying and tendering for auction, preparing legal structures and community investment proposals.

* For any queries on this event, please contact Mari or Patrick on events@3cea.ie

For more information on 3cea’s range of community programmes, visit our Community page here.

Renewable Energy Opportunities for SECs – RESS Webinar for Community Groups

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We would like to invite you to join our free online event for Sustainable Energy Communities.

Date: Wednesday 31st March at 1pm

The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS), which was introduced last year, provides communities with an opportunity to develop their own renewable energy project. In this webinar we will go through the process of what is involved in setting up a renewable energy project in your community.

Attendees will hear from SEAI on the supports that will be provided for communities on this journey, from communities who either are or have been on this journey and there will be a talk on Energy Cooperatives and how these might work in your community.

Register here

To ensure we answer all of your queries on this important topic we ask that you send us any questions you might have via this survey.  Read more

sustainability tour

Engineers Ireland Sustainability Grand Tour – Design for Manufacture & Assembly – a digitised solution to low carbon modular homes

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As part of the Sustainability Grand Tour series, this webinar will examine a digitised solution to low carbon modular homes for the Irish housing crisis and their delivery through Interreg Housing 4.0 Energy. In this session we will be joined by the 3 Counties Energy Agency who will outline H4.0 technologies and materials and provide information on pilot projects from Carlow, Wexford and Kilkenny County Councils. 3 Counties Energy Agency is a non-profit, independent energy agency working primarily in Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. The event will conclude with a short Q&A session with the panel of speakers.

Event details

Date: Thursday, 25 February 2021 from 13:00-14:00

Location: Online event – Zoom

Register your attendance: https://www.engineersireland.ie/Events/event/7334

Agenda

  • 3 Counties Energy Agency’s Regional Energy Transition Strategy to 2030
  • Introduction to low carbon and innovative H4.0 technologies and materials
  • H4.0E Pilot projects from Carlow, Wexford & Kilkenny County Councils – The Challenge and Ambition
  • Q&A

CPD Details

  • CPD Award Hours: 1
  • CPD Organisation: Engineers Ireland
  • CPD Type: Prof Body Act
  • CPD Subtype: PB/Lecture
  • CPD Competences: T4. Personal and professional responsibility

Renewable Energy Investment Forum

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The Southern Regional Assembly will host a webinar on Thursday 4th February to support renewable energy in the region.

The Southern Regional Assembly have set ambitious objectives for renewable energy which will require buy in from a number of stakeholders from the public sector, private sector and community groups.

This webinar will highlight the renewable energy targets set for the country, and the region, while also discussing how we plan to achieve these targets. Local and regional authorities will be key players in supporting the Southern Region with renewable energy investment. Speaking on the webinar will be a panel of experts from the various stakeholder groups, including Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD.

The webinar will take place on February 4th, 2021 and will start at 9:15 AM.

If you are unable to attend on the day, it is advised to still register for the event as a recording will be shared to all registrants.

Register Here

See attached agenda for full details.

 

Sustainable Energy Communities Workshop

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3cea will be hosting a free online workshop for Sustainable Energy Communities in the South East on 3rd February 2021.

The aim of this event is to relaunch the SEC programme for 2021. Whether you are a community who is reaching some of your energy goals, or you are a group who is struggling to work through the steps of the programme, 2020 was a tough year for us all. 2021 provides us with new opportunities and supports for making our community energy plans a reality.

Join 3cea in this workshop to meet other communities, to learn from each other and to see what is possible for your community.

Gráinne Kennedy of 3 Counties Energy Agency will host the hour-long online event and provide helpful tips to encourage communities in the South East of the country to fully engage with the SEC programme. This event will also give the communities an opportunity to network and share ideas.

This online event will offer a chance for all attendee’s to

  • Meet other communities working to create Sustainable Energy Communities
  • Meet the South East SEC team
  • Understand the changing fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency
  • Ask questions on how to approach organising in your community

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqcOmurz4oHdzbSaSl2tg8wbujzWQN5ZeY

Date & Time: Wednesday, 3rd February 2021 at 11am

Agenda:

  • 11am – Introduction
  • 11.10am – Your hopes for your SEC community
  • 11.30am – What is possible?
  • 11.40am – 3 things communities have learned.
  • 11.50am – Supports on offer from County Mentors
  • 12pm – Summation Q&A

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Information Event.

For more information on community programmes and successful projects, visit: https://3cea.ie/sectors/community/

We look forward to your participation. For any queries, please contact Mari or Patrick on events@3cea.ie

 

Save Energy at Home & in your Community Online Event – Thu 10th Dec at 6.30pm – Hosted by Codema

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Codema will host an online event on Thursday 10th December at 6:30pm which will focus on Saving Energy at Home & In Your Community.

This event is for people to learn about energy saving in the home and in their community.

To give an idea of the evening, Gavin Harte will be introducing the SEC programme and introduce the Home Energy Saving Kit scheme. We’re also delighted to have two Sustainable Energy Communities on board to contribute to the evening; Laragh/Glendalough SEC (Finian McEvoy) and Ringsend/Irishtown Energy Cooperative (Megan Kuster).  Read more

Join the Cycle E-Sufficiency webinar #2: mobility and public space

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Date: 9 December from 10:30 to 12:00 CET

Overconsumption – of energy and materials – have devastating effects on climate and the environment.  It is urgent to start consuming less and better, in line with the concept of energy sufficiency.

Enshrined in the French Energy Transition Bill of 2015, the concept of energy sufficiency is still largely unknown and misunderstood at the European level. According to Environmental Change Institute, “Energy sufficiency is a state in which people’s basic needs for energy services are met equitably and ecological limits are respected.” (Darby and Fawcett, 2018). Energy sufficiency goes beyond energy efficiency: it’s about having enough but not using too much. It’s about doing things differently; about living well, within the limits (energysufficiency.org).

As part of its energy transition Vice-Presidency, AREC IDF is organising with FEDARENE a series of webinars on energy sufficiency in Europe: Read more

Better Energy Communities Grant 2021- Online Information Event

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3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea) will host a free online event to introduce the Better Energy Communities Grant which is currently open for applications for the 2021 programme.

Date & Time: Tuesday 24th November at 11am-12pm

Register for the event here.

The free online energy information event encourages businesses and community groups to hear from our experts in 3cea to discuss the benefits of the Better Energy Communities Grant.

Businesses, community groups, GAA clubs, crèche owners, schools and many more interested parties are invited to attend as each are eligible to receive up to 30-50% grant aid for their energy projects.

Our energy expert, Fintan O’Hora will host the event on Tuesday November 24th at 11am. Interested groups will gain the required information and support they need to get their Better Energy Communities Grant Programme (BEC) application over the line ahead of the December deadline. Read more