Sligo Sustainable Energy Community

Background:

Sligo Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) forms a collaboration of Sligo town's largest energy users and employers across the public and private sectors. It was established in 2016 through the collaborative efforts of Atlantic Technological University (ATU), HSE NorthWest, Sligo County Council, Plan Energy, Sligo Chamber, Abbott and AbbVie. The primary focus areas of the SEC include behavioural change, energy education, energy efficiency, financial savings, and community energy generation. 

Sligo SEC engages with the wider community through a comprehensive strategy designed to educate, involve, and empower residents. It hosts webinars, workshops, and coordinates and attends community events to raise awareness about the benefits of energy retrofitting and sustainable practices. These events provide practical advice and enable people to take action. Its goal is to ensure that no person, regardless of their circumstance, is left behind in achieving comfort in their own home.

Sligo SEC is supported through EU LIFE funding, Gas Networks Ireland innovation funds, local grants, and partnerships with organisations like Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo County Councils, Údarás Na Gaeltachta, and the Aran Islands Energy Cooperative. A voluntary led steering group includes core public and private sector members, along with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland, and Teagasc, supported by three energy professionals who work full-time to implement sustainable energy projects.

SEAI provided €25,000 in funding to Sligo SEC to develop their Energy Master Plan. Following this,  several energy projects have been carried out in the community, including a home retrofitting project funded by the EU Life Programme. They are now working on a community-owned solar PV project under the SEAI Community Energy Enabling Framework.

Results and key achievements:

1. Retrofits: Sligo SEC has supported the retrofit of 35 homes under the SEAI fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme.,. These projects directly benefit homeowners by lowering energy bills and enhancing living conditions.
2. Anaerobic Digestion: Sligo SEC initiated a €10 million green gas project that aligns with the national biomethane anaerobic digestion strategy. It offers local businesses a sustainable alternative to traditional gas supplies. This significantly reduces CO2 emissions, not and provides a sustainable alternative to traditional gas supplies.
3. SEAI Community Energy grant: Sligo SEC secured €0.7 million from SEAI as part of the  Community Grant programme. This enabled energy upgrades in 30 buildings , including homes, churches, schools, community buildings, and a dog shelter. The total cost of the investment was €1.5million. These projects not only help reduce carnon emissions and energy costs, but they also enhance property values and contribute to job creation and economic growth.
4. Education and Outreach: Sligo SEC have created tailored events to address specific community needs, while also running local awareness campaigns and collaborating with newspapers and radio stations. Practical demonstrations, such as ‘Meet the Builder’ events with Retrofit Ready colleagues, allow residents to see retrofitting techniques in action.. The SEC delivered 40 events with over 4,000 attendees and achieved 200 retrofit projects as a result.
5. Financial generation and job creation: Through our initiatives, we generated approximately €1.6 million in capital expenditure, created jobs for local contractors and stimulated the local economy. We also established a working group with local councils and Codema, Dublin’s Energy Agency, to explore district heating. District Heating has the potential to deliver over 30% of heating requirements.