Sustainable Energy Communities – South East SEC Webinar Series

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Online Information Events for Communities to be part of the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme

The aim of these events is to provide basic information and introduce community groups from the South East to the SEC programme, highlighting the recruitment process, community engagement, grants, and funding opportunities. We will provide helpful tips on how to register as a Community for the SEC programme and what you need to do to be successful.

This webinar series will encourage communities in the South East of the country to engage with the SEC programme. The informative events will take place online with each event focusing on a separate topic.

SEC Webinar Series
The dates, topics and registration links are as follows:

22nd Sept: Recruitment – Jane Wickham. Southeast SEC Coordinator | Register here
29th Sept: Community Engagement – Fiona O’Loughlin, Wexford SEC Mentor | Register here
6th Oct: Grants – Yvonne Byrne, Waterford SEC Mentor | Register here
13th Oct: Funding Opportunities – Therese Curran, Kilkenny SEC Mentor | Register here

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Better Energy Communities Grant

Everything you need to know about applying for Communities Energy Grant

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What is Communities Energy Grant (BEC)?

3cea team has been successful in securing energy grant funding for communities and businesses across all sectors. Over the past 5 years 3cea has assisted in the delivery of cumulative energy savings of more than €19.6 million through the Communities Energy Grant (BEC) initiative.

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

How can 3cea help?

From initial application to final grant sign-off, we can project manage the entire process for you, this is why we encourage you to get in contact now to discuss your project in more detail.

3cea has extensive, award-winning experience and expertise in supporting applicants through the BEC pipeline, we act as your project-coordinator and energy advisor throughout the entire process. Our Team has achieved success through combining specific technical expertise and local community knowledge on hundreds of energy efficiency projects of scale since 2002.

Funding & Supports Available

  • Up to 50% funding for community projects, sports halls, community halls, community centers etc
  • Up to 30% funding for private businesses, large industry and commercial buildings, private companies
    Read more

Breakfast Briefing Events to guide your business to a Low Carbon Economy

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Free Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office initiative to increase awareness around sustainability and the low carbon economy

MANUFACTURING businesses across the south east employing less than 10 people are being offered a unique opportunity to cut harmful emissions and make significant energy, waste, water and other savings through the landmark Green for Micro programme.

Local Enterprise Offices in Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary are pooling their resources, talents and skills for ‘Green for Micro’. The ground-breaking Enterprise Ireland-funded initiative will assist businesses in transitioning to a low-carbon economy and could be rolled out nationally, those behind the initiative say.

Hands-on tips, expertise, mentoring, audits and more will be provided by project collaborators, the 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea). The independent, not-for-profit team of energy engineers at 3cea will help participating enterprises examine their energy, waste, water, procurement and transport needs and make more informed, environmentally-friendly choices.

The first in a series of free breakfast briefings explaining Green for Micro to industry and to increase awareness around sustainability and the low carbon economy begins on Tuesday, January 28 at Wexford’s Ferrycarrig Hotel, starting at 8.00am.

Sessions follow in Waterford’s Tower Hotel on Tuesday, February 11; Kilkenny’s Newpark Hotel on Thursday, February 13; Horse & Jockey in Tipperary on Tuesday, February 18 with the final, free breakfast briefing takes place in Carlow’s Woodford Dolmen Hotel on Thursday, February 20. Each breakfast briefing runs from 8.30am to 9.30am sharp.

Phase two of the project will then involve energy audits carried out on ten micro, manufacturing businesses – two in each of the five participating counties. The results of their findings will be showcased at a conference as part of phase three of the initiative. The final phase of the Enterprise Ireland-funded programme will see monitoring equipment installed at various enterprises.

Enterprise Ireland Regional Executive, Brian Fives said: “Micro enterprises across the South East are eager to play their part in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Green for Micro shows them the way. Auditing their energy consumption, mapping the results and monitoring their transition will provide an invaluable insight into how every enterprise can play its part in Ireland meeting its 2030 climate targets. We are proud to be leading the way here in the South East.”

Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny’s Aileen McGrath : “We urge qualifying micro enterprises to attend the no obligation breakfast briefing, pick up an expression of interest form and see how even the smallest of changes in their manufacturing processes and general business decisions can make a big difference. While our primary target is manufacturing, micro enterprises in other sectors may also qualify and we encourage them to attend,” she said.

3cea Energy Engineer, Shane Faulkner, said: “We will provide each participating enterprise with up to nine days of expert help which will include audits, reports and mentoring. The level of buy-in from manufacturers in the region is extremely encouraging and are really looking forward to playing our part. The fact we’re working at a regional level rather than with individual manufacturing enterprises and in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices across the region makes Green for Micro a massive game changer for the entire South East, beyond even,” he said.

Green for Micro is one of three projects grant-aided to the tune of €345,000 by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD and lead by Kilkenny and Carlow Local Enterprise Offices in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Offices from Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

The other projects include Initium South East and Incrementum South East.  The Initium South East project is an innovative series of start-up programmes led by the South East Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland, and the Ireland South East Office in partnership with South East BIC and IT Carlow. It aims to animate, develop and support the creation of 40 new specialised Start Up companies in the South East.

The Incrementum South East project is a targeted business development programme for the Local Enterprise Office Portfolio of clients over 10 employees which aims to increase their engagement in R&D and Export Activity.

About this event

Registration & breakfast for the event starts at 8 am, the first speaker will begin at 8:30 am.

The Breakfast Briefing events are free to attend but please register your attendance on Eventbrite or by contacting Mari or Patrick on 0567790856 or at events@3cea.ie

Wexford Event – Register Here

Waterford Event – Register Here

Kilkenny Event – Register Here

Carlow Event – Register Here

Tipperary Event – Register Here

There will be speakers representing local businesses to talk about what they have done in improving the environmental and cost competitiveness of their business.

Real life stories and case studies 

At the first Breakfast Briefing event in Wexford, Killowen Farm and Kehoe’s Potatoes will give an overview of the projects they have undertaking including measuring and monitoring, reducing waste, installing LED lights, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity and putting a plan in place to to tackle their rising costs.

3cea will give a presentation on supports available to SMEs and how to access theses supports and grants.

Free information meeting about grants and assistance to make homes and buildings more energy efficient

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Grant schemes covering up to 80% of costs to be explained

Home and business owners, farmers, community groups, housing associations and more across Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford who want to slash their energy costs, reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy the comfort of more energy efficient homes are invited to a free, no obligation information meeting which highlights the attractive grants and expert help available to complete such works. Read more

SEAI Celebrates 300 Sustainable Communities with 4th Annual National Sustainable Energy Community Event in Athlone

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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. Read more

Grants Master List

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Better Energy Communities (BEC) Programme

Funding Source: SEAI [embeddoc url=”http://3cea.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Grants-list-presentation-pdf-1.pdf” download=”all”]

Eligibility:

  • Cross-sector projects for increasing the energy performance of buildings, community facilities and transport systems
  • Residential housing upgrades to stock built prior to 2006
  • Private sector non-residential building works
  • Commercial organizations
  • Voluntary organizations
  • Community-based organizations
  • Public sector non-residential works

Amount:

  • A maximum grant funding of up to €1,000,000 is available for any one project
  • The recommended minimum grant application value will be €30,000
  • Up to 50% funding to community facilities – community halls, resource centres, schools, sports clubs etc.
  • Up to 30% funding for private sector – SME’s, large commercial buildings, private nursing homes and hotels
  • Amount of funding received is dependent on the project’s BEC evaluation
  • Projects greater than €250,000 must be approved by the board of SEAI
  • Projects under €250,000 may be issued contracts subject to approval but prior to the announcement of the evaluation BEC results
  • Maximum funding levels for each component of project:

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Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) phase 2 opened by Minister Richard Bruton

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Applications open today Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH)

The second phase of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), which will provide operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems has now opened.

This round of the Scheme will support businesses and farms for up to 15 years for the installation and on-going use of biomass and anaerobic digestion heating systems. The Scheme is designed to support up to 1,300 GWh of renewable heat per year (equivalent to the heating needs of circa 120,000 homes).

3cea welcome the recent announcement for the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). Reference: https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/news-and-media/press-releases/Pages/Minister-Bruton-Announces-Support-for-Renewable-Heat.aspx

Making the announcement Minister Bruton said: “If we are to cut greenhouse gases, we must replace fossil fuels by renewable sources. This scheme is designed to replace fossil fuel heating systems by heat pumps and by heat from biomass or anaerobic digestion. These are sustainable and renewable sources.” Read more

business_grants

Business Grants and Supports – Dairy farm grants, lighting support, EXEED, heat pump grants and more

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We would like to give you and overview of SEAI business supports and grants and the programmes that are currently available and can help your business or farm to become more sustainable, innovative and smarter to meet your energy needs. SEAI business grants have helped organisations all over Ireland make significant savings.

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SEAI Grant funding up to €500,000 announced for Dairy Farm milk pumps

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Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD announced funding for energy efficient dairy farm equipment on Monday, February 18th 2019.

Grant funding of up to €500,000 is now available for high-efficiency milk pumps, saving the average farmer €1,440 in energy bills and 1.6t in reduced carbon emissions annually. Read more

Kilkenny LEADER Partnership offering up to €100,000 plus in supports for top Kilkenny Energy Town

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Kilkenny’s Energy Town

Kilkenny LEADER Partnership offering up to €100,000 plus in supports for top Kilkenny Energy Town

The search is on for Kilkenny’s Energy Town, a sustainable energy hub which will reap up to €100,000 in supports as well as expert help from the region’s top energy agency.

Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP) included a ‘Town of Energy’ audit and carbon reduction plan at the core of its 2014- 2020 LEADER Local Development Strategy. It has now teamed up with the not-for-profit energy experts for the region, 3 Counties Energy Agency (3CEA), to execute that plan. Read more