Energy and diversification event showcases how to maximise farm grant payments

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Farmers wanting advice on the opportunities presented by newly launched Government funding through the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) and Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) are invited to attend the Energy and Rural Business Show, taking place this October 23 and 24.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which operates the renewable heat scheme and is the keynote sponsor for the show, will be on hand to explain how it works. Ray Langton, SEAI programme manager, explains that the scheme is open to agricultural, commercial, industrial, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users.

“This scheme is designed to replace fossil fuel heating systems with renewable heating systems including heat pumps, biomass and anaerobic digestion. SSRH offers installation grants for heat pumps and ongoing operational support for biomass or biogas,” he says. Read more

Leading renewable energy show returns with dedicated farm diversification advice

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Energy Now Expo Ireland is boosting its offering by including a Rural Business Expo, to showcase expert farm diversification advice. The pioneering event for farmers and landowners has announced that it’s rebranding as ‘Energy and Rural Business Show Ireland’.

Run in association with the Irish Farming Association (IFA) and Teagasc, and taking place at the The Hub at Cillin Hill, Kilkenny on 23 and 24 October 2019, Energy and Rural Business Show Ireland is the one stop shop for the latest opportunities in renewable energy and carbon management as well as practical farm diversification advice. Read more

Ireland’s Climate Targets – Climate Action Plan launched

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The Government launched its Climate Action Plan yesterday by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minster for Climate Action Richard Bruton at an event at Grangegorman in Dublin.

The plan contains 183 actions that the Government claims will help Ireland meet exacting 2030 EU climate emission targets, as well as a new commitment to make Ireland 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2050. It includes major policy shifts to enable a rapid decarbonisation of the State within 12 years, including targets for putting 1 million electric vehicles on Irish roads; retrofitting of 500,000 homes and achieving 70 per cent renewable energy in power generation. Is this something you would support?

Have a look at the actions to be taken so Ireland can achieve climate change targets: View or download the full plan here.

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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

New Regional Enterprise Plan for the South-East – 3CEA supporting the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford towards the low carbon economy

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The South-East Regional Enterprise Plan builds on the success of the South-East Regional Action Plan for Jobs (2015–2017) to ensure that it remains effective and that it continues to deliver jobs across the South-East region and can be robust to address the challenges we face, including Brexit.

New Plan is one of nine Regional Enterprise Plans being launched by Minister Humphreys to drive enterprise growth in the regions.

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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

First Successful projects under Climate Action Fund announced – 3CEA to secure investment of €1.4 million towards transport HGV fleetmatics project

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The Government has announced the first batch of successful projects that will receive investment under the Climate Action Fund – 3 Counties Energy Agency delighted to be announced as 1 out of the 7 successful projects.

This is a real chance for 3CEA to reduce energy across our region & beyond.

7 major climate change projects to share €77 million government funding, leveraging a total investment of €300 million in round one of the scheme

Potential to reduce annual emissions by over 200 thousand tonnes of carbon as a result of new initiatives  Read more

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published the draft T&C’s for the Support Scheme of Renewable Heat.

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The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) moved one step closer as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published the draft ‘Terms and Conditions’ for the scheme.

The primary objective of the scheme for renewable heat is to increase the level of renewable energy in the heat sector. The government funded scheme will support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the emissions trading system. Read more

3CEA helped generate renewable energy on O’Shea Farms by delivering on a targeted energy saving project – O’Shea Farms are now providing Aldi with €70 million worth of Irish-grown potatoes.

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O’Shea Farms is a family run business, they supply fresh vegetable produce to supermarkets across the country resulting in a year round electricity demand for refrigerated cold storage and grading equipment at their site. O’Shea Farms engaged with 3CEA back in 2015 to develop the renewable energy project at their site and installed the largest Solar PV system (250kWp) under the BEC programme run by Kilkenny County Council under their Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Read more