Case Studies for Community Energy Projects Dr Orla Nic Suibhne Western Development Commission 7 th December 2019
OVERVIEW • Western Development Commission • LECo (Local Energy Communities)Project • Climate Change and Energy • Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) • 8 case studies from LECo
Western Development Commission • State agency who are adapting & leading change • Today the WDC is working with regional, national and international partners to enable job and enterprise growth in the Western Region • Renewable energy research • Access to finance: Western Investment Fund • Insight and analysis: Policy Team • Regional Development Team • Creative economy projects
Community Loans Western Development Commission • Loan amounts ranging from € 10k to € 100k are considered • Interest rate of 3% for community groups • Bridging Finance can also be provided for approved LEADER and SEAI Grants at a rate of 1%, subject to conditions.
LECo • Local Energy Communities (LECo) - http://leco.interreg-npa.eu/ • NPA 3-year project which commenced in August 2017, budget € 1.9m • Based on community energy & development of sustainable energy communities • Partners in Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Ireland • 3 x renewable energy feasibility studies for communities • 2 x community energy study trips to Germany • Free online training platform for communities: • https://localenergycommunities.net/
Climate Change and Energy • Energy consumption accounted for 60% of Ireland’s GHG emissions in 2017 • Transport, residential and industry accounted for the highest shares: Need to DECARBONISE
Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) • First auction in 2020 to replace older REFIT scheme • Increased community participation in renewable electricity projects • Ownership options for communities for the first time • 10% auction capacity ring-fenced for community owned projects • 10-20% of developer led projects must have community investment options enabled and exercised Community supports to include: feasibility study grants, legal and technical assistance, trusted advisors and intermediaries, priority grid access, overall financial risk mitigation
Ireland: 2 Case Studies Erris SEC Aran Islands SEC • Co-op with 100 members and 12 Directors • BECs since 2012, SEAFUEL, GEOFIT, RESPOND • Drive to be carbon neutral • Constant community engagement
Finland: 2 Case Studies Larsmo Vindkraft Ab • Founded in 2001 to develop wind projects • Now 200 shareholders and 1 MW turbine • Lot of lessons learnt from this project: more community engagement, more secure supplier, raise a larger share of own equity, do not assume higher price for electricity, need for a technical advisor Lohtaja Cooperative Founded in 2001 with 40 members, 1 st energy co-op in the area • • 300kW wood chip plant to supply 800MWhs per annum • Good model to do business in Finland • Would now build a larger store house and boiler room
Germany: 2 Case Studies Outdoor-pool society of Dingden • Founded in 2000, now has 3,100 members • Membership fee is € 6 per year and children free • 245 kWp PV installed • In 2013 won the “Climate Protection Award” from RWE • Close collaboration with the Local Authority Energy Cooperative Kappel • Local energy co-op operates a District Heating system using local bioenergy • 100 members, in operation November 2015, 4.4KM long with 93 buildings • 600kW biogas CHP also 2 x 500kW biomass boilers • Local jobs, local benefit, local economy doing well
Sweden: 2 Case Studies District Heating Plant Jokkmokk municipality • Biomass district heating, 17MW wood chip boiler, 3MW pellet boiler • 100% owned by the municipality with 8 employees • Very efficient network, 522 buildings in total Waste Water Heat Pump, Vilhelmina municipality • Owned by the municipality • Heat pump based • 23kW HP delivers 57,000 kWhs per year using only 12,000 kWhs of electricity (COP 4.75) • 7 year payback period
THANK YOU QUESTIONS?
The Project Partners Centria University of Applied Sciences (Lead Partner) (FIN), Lohtaja Energy Cooperative (FIN), Western Development Commission (IRL), The Gaeltacht Authority (IRL), Luleå University of Technology (SWE), Jokkmokk Community (SWE), Arctic University of Norway (NOR), Renewable Energies Agency (GER)
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