Carlow Kilkenny Energy AgencyPhone: 056 7790856Email: admin@ckea.ie

Press Release

Energy Data for Sustainable Energy Planning

Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency, 19/05/2015

Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency will host a meeting on Energy Data Opportunities on Wednesday 3^rd June 2015 at the Lord Bagenal Inn, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. The Energy Agency is a member of the EU Data4Action (www.data4action.eu) initiative, which is hosting the event. Go to www.ckea.ie to register.

Through Data4Action, Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency is developing a Local Energy Observatory. The Observatory will utilise local energy consumption data to help to inform future strategic planning and Sustainable Energy Action Planning within both Carlow and Kilkenny counties. Ambition is that the outputs from the local energy observatory will influence decisions made and have real impact on making both counties exemplars of low carbon economies.

To facilitate this process the CKEA is using EU protocols to undertake an analysis of the national energy data statistics and disaggregate these to the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny. This process uses metrics, such as demographic data, to create a baseline guide for use in other EU countries.

The next phase of the initiative will involve the collection of local data from energy consumers via an energy portal. This will improve the accuracy of the information that is gathered. The data will then be used as a reference tool for decision-makers at Local Authority level, enabling them to track the positive or negative impact on energy consumption that results from strategic planning decisions. It will also enable corrective action, where this may be necessary.

Later this summer the Carlow and Kilkenny Local Energy Observatory will be launched for public access to allow everyone to share their energy data – so everyone can play a part in making their local area a more sustainable energy user.

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Embargo: 21st May 2015

Data4Action aims to foster win-win energy data exchange collaboration models between public authorities and energy data providers across twelve European Union (EU) countries.