A delegation fromWashington State’s Department of Commerce recently visited the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as part of a trade mission to Ireland and Englandto develop business linkages. The visit presents an exciting opportunity for Irish clean-tech companies to make meaningful collaborations with international markets, including the US and Far East which can be easily accessed via Washington.

The delegation included leaders from industry, academia, state utilities and public enterprise organisations who were visiting with the intention of growing foreign exports and encouraging direct investment particularly in key growth areas, such as sustainable technology and ocean energy. The delegation was also keen to learn from Ireland’s experience in relation to renewable energy and carbon reduction policies.

SEAI chief executive, Dr Brian Motherway, comments: “Ireland has developed significant expertise in sustainable energy which now presents global commercial opportunities. As foreign markets increasingly recognise our knowledge and experience, and look to link with us, Irish businesses can expand to wider international markets and create real enterprise benefits.”

As part of the visit to SEAI, the delegation met with leading Irish ocean energy experts who briefed them on the latest Irish developments in wave and tidal energy. Ireland is one of the global leaders in the development of ocean energy technology and, through SEAI, will host a major international conference on ocean energy, ICOE2012, in October this year.

Dr Brian Motherway has been appointed as chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Dr Motherway holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Sociology. He first joined SEAI in 2006 and in his most recent role as chief operations officer had overall responsibility for SEAI operations, performance and impacts, strategic planning, and its work in clean technology and enterprise.

Speaking of the appointment, Brendan Halligan, chairman of the board of SEAI, comments: “Sustainable energy is now a core strategic issue for society and must be tackled with strong policies and actions which recognise the urgency of the challenges we face. SEAI will continue to lead with innovative thinking and action to support Ireland in creating jobs, enhancing competitiveness and ensuring clean secure energy for all. With Dr Motherway as our new chief executive, I am confident the Authority will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Students from Presentation Secondary School, Thurles are the overall winners of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s search for ‘One Good Idea’ with their ‘Generation Green’ entry encouraging the use of cleaner, greener energy. The students showcased their work among twenty competing schools chosen from around the country to exhibit at the prestigious national final which took place today, Thursday May 3rd, in Dublin Castle.

The students from Presentation Secondary School, Thurles not only get the coveted title of national winners of the One Good Idea competition, but they will now go forward to represent Ireland in the U4Energy Awards. U4energy is the first pan-European competition on energy education organised by the European Commission.

The One Good Idea project is organised by SEAI and supported by the Better Energy programme and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The aim of the project is to increase students’ understanding of energy efficiency and climate change by encouraging them to take individual and collective responsibility for tackling these important issues and to highlight how one good idea can make a big difference to our pockets, ourselves and our planet. The winning students were presented with prizes including Eu1,000 for their school, iPod Touches and iTunes vouchers.

The award for the Senior One Good Idea Campaign went to ‘Dublin Area Recycling Team (DART)’ from Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney and the Junior One Good Idea Campaign award went to ‘Communergy’ from Mountmellick Community School, Co Laois. Both teams were awarded Eur500 for their school and iPods and iTunes vouchers for their team. Almost 1,500 students from 85 schools submitted campaigns to this year’s One Good Idea competition. For more information on the One Good Idea project log onto www.seai.ie/onegoodidea, email onegoodidea@realevents.ie or call 01 5224830.

Green Energy

Analysis by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) of the economic and enterprise benefits of the sustainable energy sector, states that over 20,000 jobs can be created within the sector over the next eight years to 2020. Currently 10,000 jobs are supported in the sector which has the potential to treble by 2020 by creating and supporting jobs, not only directly in renewable energy and energy efficiency (13,000 jobs), but also indirectly by enhancing business competitiveness (7,000 jobs).

“The sustainable energy sector offers significant benefits to Ireland, including; creating jobs, increased competitiveness and future proofing against upward price trends,” points Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI. “The transition to sustainable energy is well underway, but the pace needs to accelerate for Irish society to truly benefit.  Ireland has significant and growing strengths in the areas of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies; now business and policy makers must work together to deliver on the export potential that exists within these key areas.”

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, TD comments: “Sustainable energy is becoming the norm in Ireland and with that change comes many economic opportunities and jobs. Irish enterprises adopting sustainable energy practices are reducing costs, becoming more competitive, securing jobs and as a result are delivering real benefits in all sectors of our economy. “

The Government recently launched the Better Energy Workplaces Scheme 2012, a capital fund to support sustainable energy investments in 2012 in the public, commercial, industrial and community sectors. The fund will make available Eur7.5 million for projects that support energy performance contracting; a key element of Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency Plan. Public sector projects are particularly encouraged in order to assist in meeting the 33% public sector energy efficiency improvement target in 2020.

Indeed an impact report on Better Energy Workplaces 2011 shows that the State’s Eur11 million investment to support 85 organisational energy upgrades, will be repaid in energy savings in one year.

Cylon Active Energy, the new energy management division of Cylon Group, one of Ireland’s leading providers of energy management services, has been presented with the Sustainable Energy Innovation Award at the recent Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2011 Annual Awards. The Sustainable Energy Awards honour individuals and organisations that demonstrate excellence in the management and use of energy and who are committed to more sustainable energy practices.

Cylon Active Energy provides comprehensive energy management services to large corporations and SMEs in the UK, Ireland and across Europe. Clients include: University College Dublin, Dublin City Council, Superquinn, Enterprise Ireland, Forfas, Manchester Metropolitan, Raleigh Convention Centre North Carolina and Microsoft.

“Efficient energy management is becoming a priority for businesses due to growing regulatory requirements and increasing energy costs,” comments Sean Giblin, managing director of Cylon Group. “Cylon’s unique cloud based real-time energy management technology allows us to centrally monitor and analyse our clients’ energy consumption from our Dublin-based Energy Bureau in Clonshaugh. Our engineers determine the efficiency of the building, identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to clients in order to maximise efficiency, reduce overall energy consumption, carbon footprint and drive energy savings.”

CAPTION:

Pictured at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2011 Annual Awards were L-R: Brendan Halligan, chairman of SEAI; Sean Giblin, manging director of Cylon Group; Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD; Nicola Dunne, general manager of Cylon Active Energy; and Brid Horan, executive director of ESB Electric Ireland.

The Government has launched ‘Developing a Green Enterprise’, a concise guide for businesses in Ireland to the supports (including State-funded programmes) offered by the various State agencies with responsibility for environment, enterprise development and energy.

The Green Enterprise Guide has been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Developing a Green Enterprise provides directional information on where different businesses can go for assistance in relation to water conservation, waste prevention, energy efficiency and clean technology.  The guide also provides an overview of the key state agencies involved and the programmes and assistance they offer.

Over half of all Irish companies have taken action to improve their energy efficiency in the last three years, according to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and only one-third of these actions have involved a capital spend. Reducing energy costs is a key priority for Irish business and where energy efficiency initiatives were implemented, most businesses have achieved average energy cost savings of 12%.

Businesses that have participated in the EPA’s Greenbusiness initiative in 2010 have identified almost Eur10 million worth of savings from an investment by the EPA of less than Eur1 million.

Building Energy Ratings (BER) have now been issued to over 200,000 Irish homes, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). A total of 201,854 homes have been rated by BER assessors across the country, marking an increase of 100,000 since February 2010.

Introduced in 2007 as part of the European Directive to improve the energy performance of homes, the rate of BER publications has steadily increased over the last two years since the introduction of a mandatory requirement for the inclusion of a BER certificate when selling or renting a home.

A BER is an indication of the energy performance of a home, displaying an energy label on a scale of A1-G. An A1-rated home is the most energy efficient and will tend to have the lowest energy bills. A BER certificate is issued in conjunction with an advisory report which identifies how householders can improve the energy performance of their homes.

Recent research, carried out by SEAI, shows that awareness levels of the BER Scheme has increased significantly over the last two years with almost six out of ten people expressing an awareness of the term BER in relation to homes and buildings. However while the research shows that there has been a rise in awareness amongst those looking to sell their homes (70% compared to 54% in 2009), those in the rental market remain the least aware at 42%.

“The latest research figures on awareness levels, combined with the actual number of homes that have had BERs completed, indicate an increasing awareness of and compliance with the legislation. Despite the decline in property transactions, there has been a significant demand for BER ratings over the last two years,” comments Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI. “However those renting properties are still not aware of their entitlements to receive a BER. We urge those considering renting a property to demand a BER certificate, so they are fully informed of the energy performance of a dwelling before finalising any rent agreement.”

In order to obtain a BER, a homeowner must have an assessment carried out by a certified BER assessor who is trained under the National Framework of Qualifications and registered with SEAI. There are currently 2,100 SEAI registered BER assessors across the country.

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has become the first organisation in Ireland, to be certified to the SWiFT 3000: Code of Practice for Corporate Governance Assessment in Ireland. SWiFT 3000’s primary objective is to provide organisations of all sizes and types with a standard framework of assessment of compliance with relevant corporate governance codes.

Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI.

More than a dozen key professional bodies engaged in the promotion of best corporate governance practice participated in SWiFT 3000’s development through a National Standards Authority of Ireland consultative committee, including the public and private sectors and corporate governance experts from academia. It specifies the requirements for the Corporate Governance Assessment (including board effectiveness) in companies and involves an independent external assessor reviewing a company’s compliance with their corporate governance codes and obligations.

“This certification is a testament to the governance culture developed by the SEAI board and the hard work and dedication of the team at SEAI in implementing the process. I would strongly encourage other board members, company secretaries and business owners to implement SWiFT 3000 as an essential element in their overall strategy,” comments Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI. “The award of SWiFT 3000 certification to SEAI will assure our stakeholders that we have the right structures, behaviours and practices in place and help us to continuously improve upon our corporate governance standards.”

A new study on the Irish electricity system has revealed that the growing levels of wind generation on the Irish electricity network are not adding to the wholesale price of electricity. The report by grid operator EirGrid and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, uses detailed modelling tools to look in detail at the wholesale prices in the Irish electricity system in 2011, which has a total annual value of almost €2 billion

The analysis showed that wind generation lowers wholesale prices by over €70 million, which almost exactly offsets the costs of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy and other costs associated with the generation of wind energy. The study clearly demonstrates that wind energy is not contributing to higher wholesale electricity prices on the Irish electricity system.

Wind generators have high capital costs, but as they do not consume fuel they have no short-term costs. By displacing higher cost fossil fuel generation, wind energy tends to reduce the wholesale cost of producing electricity, the study has found. When balanced against other costs, the overall cost impact of wind is less than half of one percent, which is within the study’s margin of error.

The increased use of wind energy on the Irish electricity system increases Ireland’s security of supply and ensures a more diverse fuel supply in the long-term.

Dermot Byrne, chief executive of EirGrid, says: “Reliable, economic and sustainable power is crucial to Ireland’s future. Renewable energy can play an important part in the energy mix but it is important to continuously look at the effect on prices of all sources of energy, in the interest of consumers. This report is a significant contribution to that.”

Dr Brian Motherway, chief operations officer of SEAI.

Dr Brian Motherway, chief operations officer of SEAI, remarks: “It is important that our energy debates are based on solid facts and clear evidence. This detailed analysis answers an important question – that exploiting our strong wind energy resource comes at no additional cost. It is right that we keep a focus on energy costs, and it is very good news to see that we can capture the benefits of wind energy without having to pay extra for them. And as fossil fuel prices increase the economic benefits become more significant.”

IWEA (Irish Wind energy Association) has today welcomed the publication of the Eirgrid/Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland study. “The report is further proof that Ireland’s most abundant and environmentally friendly natural energy resource, wind, can be harvested without any additional cost to the consumer,” comments Dr Michael Walsh, chief executive of IWEA. “The study, we anticipate, will be supported by the findings of our own comprehensive report, titled ‘The Impact of Wind on Pricing Within the Single Electricity Market’, which will be published on March 1st. This report, which was conducted by international specialist energy consultancy Redpoint, follows an in-depth analysis of the impact that wind generation has on two components of consumer bills; electricity prices and renewable support.”

Over half of all Irish companies have taken action to improve their energy efficiency in the last three years and only one third of these actions have involved a capital spend, according to a new survey from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Details of the survey reveal that reducing energy costs is a key priority for Irish business and where energy efficiency initiatives were implemented, most businesses achieved average energy cost savings of 12%.

The survey of 1,000 large, medium and small businesses across the country also showed that over 45% of medium and large companies now have a dedicated employee or group of employees managing energy consumption and running initiatives in businesses to increase energy efficiency. This demonstrates the rise in energy awareness amongst business in recent years and the potential for employment in this area as more companies invest in dedicated resources for energy management.

According to Brian Motherway, chief operations officer of SEAI: “More businesses are actively seeking to reduce their energy costs. Businesses participating in our programmes have reduced their costs by an average of 10%-20%. However, it is also evident that many companies are not taking the necessary action despite the opportunity for economic gains. A further €300 million of energy savings can be achieved if all of Ireland’s small to medium sized enterprises start to better manage their energy use.”

SEAI through its small business assessment service has supported over 2,000 businesses in the last three years. Companies can apply for a free energy assessment to review their energy use and a specialist energy advisor is appointed to help them assess their energy use and identify opportunities for savings. Experience shows that there are always savings opportunities, often at little or no investment required.

For example, a shopping centre management company in Tuam reduced its energy use by almost 30% after installing timers and controls for its heating systems, upgrading the lighting system and installing power factor correction equipment. A golf club in Kildare saved over 10% on its energy costs in just three months of contacting SEAI by making adjustments to its heating system and installing lighting controls and sensors. Savings of almost 18% were achieved by a children’s montessori in Galway after changing to a more competitive electricity tariff, running an energy awareness programme for staff and upgrading the lights. For more information visit www.seai.ie/business.

Udaras na Gaeltachta, the regional development agency responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, has taken measures to ensure low cost energy bills and reduced carbon emissions by signing up to a biomass heat contract with Rural Generation – the Irish market leader in providing renewable energy solutions using willow.

As part of this new contract two 150 kW KWB biomass boilers, fuelled by wood chips, have been installed to provide heat and hot water for the newly built Aislann Gaoth Dobhair building in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park in Gweedore, County Donegal. The Aislann, which spans 5,800 square metres, includes offices, innovation and enterprise centres, exhibition and arts space, a creche and the new Gaoth Dobhair library, which replace the facility that was ruined in last June’s flash flooding. Rural Generation not only installed the two boilers but will also maintain and manage them during the three years of the contracts well as providing a reliable supply of fuel.

Following an investment of approximately Eur125,000 by Udaras, of which Eur42,000 in grant aid was received from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under its Re-Heat Programme, the boilers will potentially produce energy for up to 1 million kW hours.

With each kilowatt hour of heat being charged at Eur0.04 as part of the heat contract – compared with the rate of Eur0.08 for oil – Udaras is set to save approximately Eur40,000 at full heat demand and 260 tonnes of carbon each year. This will give the agency a payback period on their boilers of just over three years.

Udaras na Gaeltachta is leading the way amongst public sector agencies in Ireland with these recent steps in energy efficiency and in addition to the two biomass boilers it also boasts 92 square metres of solar panelling.

CAPTION:

Christine Hutton (left), business development manager (energy/heat), Rural Generation, and Gearoid Dorchai (right), building services engineer, Udaras na Gaeltachta, with children from the creche of the newly finished Aislann Gaoth Dobhair building in Gweedore, County Donegal.

24 households on the Aran Islands are participating in a pilot project to demonstrate the smart grid technologies needed to transfer and store wind energy in electric vehicles. Eight electric vehicles have been delivered to homes as part of a project coordinated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. The vehicles will be rolled out to an initial eight households for one year, with a further eight households selected for participation in 2012 and again in 2013, under a three year programme looking at the potential for wind energy to power electric cars and to reduce reliance on imported fuels on the islands.

Each household has been fitted with an innovative smart charger unit which can be accessed remotely to allow matching of available wind power with vehicle charging requirements.

The project will aim to show a significant potential for electric vehicles charged by wind energy to meet the transport requirements under the difficult access conditions of an island environment. It will assess the efficiency, reliability and maintainability of the vehicles and the potential for locally generated wind power to supply the electricity requirements for the vehicles.

“Ireland has the twin goals of replacing 10% of its passenger vehicles with electric vehicles by 2020 and of exploiting our availability of renewable energy resources, in particular wind. Under Government plans to put 6,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2012, a grant of €5,000 is now available for the purchase of electric vehicles. This project on the Aran Islands is a significant step, and is among the first initiatives worldwide to demonstrate the potential for electric vehicles fuelled by wind energy,” comments Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI. “We are most encouraged by the positive reception to the project to date. Aran is a particularly useful test-bed as the islands have an abundance of wind power and mainly domestic consumers.”

Participants were selected following on open competition and an electrical survey of applicant properties in 2010. Following a public procurement process, the vehicles have been supplied by GreenMachines, and Merrion Fleet Management was selected to provide full maintenance and support services for the duration of the trial. Another Irish company, Klockner Moeller, developed the smart charging units to meet SEAI’s technical requirements.