Inland Fisheries Ireland win at SEAI Energy Awards
Inland Fisheries Ireland won the 2023 SEAI Energy Award for 'Leadership in public sector decarbonisation and energy efficiency'.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the national environmental agency responsible for the protection, development, conservation, and management of Ireland's 74,000 km of rivers and streams together with 128,000 lake hectares. A coastal 12-mile jurisdictional limit is also included.
IFI comprises 312 permanent staff and the seasonal cohort of approximately 40 staff. IFI staff are based in 78 properties spread around Ireland from regional headquarters to working field bases.
As a public sector body, IFI is required to achieve the Government's target of improving its energy efficiency by 50% and reducing its energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
The management are keen to demonstrate that their actions make a difference, and that energy efficiency makes good business sense.
"There is a particular onus on IFI to take a strong and ambitious leadership role in this area given the inextricable relationship between climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis," said Thomas McGrory, Energy Officer, Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The Project
IFI's national and regional staff green teams are responsible for IFI's energy efficiency programme.
In 2022 they partnered with Energy Elephant to implement an intelligent energy management system (EMS). This platform allows IFI to clearly identify energy blackspots (sites with old boilers, single-glazed windows, and poor insulation, for example) in near real time. This data has supported the implementation of several energy upgrade projects which have already contributed to IFI's 2022 savings.
Implementing the national EMS has allowed for the centralisation of all energy related usage. The monitoring of solar production, electric vehicle charging, kerosene, LPG Gas, natural gas, and electricity usage is now available in one location.
As of May 2023, IFI have installed 16 Solar PV systems (3 more installations are currently in progress) and have installed EV Charge points at 32 locations nationally. An EV Charger has been installed at every location with a Solar PV system allowing IFI's EV fleet to be partially charged by yield from the sun.
The roll out of electric vehicles started in 2020 and the IFI fleet now includes 45 EVs, which are fitted with bike racks for transportation of their 30 e-bikes.
"There is a particular onus on IFI to take a strong and ambitious leadership role in this area given the inextricable relationship between climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis."
Results
The programme IFI has in place is robust and sets them on a clear pathway to achieve their targets through these initiatives. Some of the key results are:
- IFI achieved a 39% energy use reduction.
- Three properties have achieved BER B ratings, with works ongoing on other property retrofits.
- The solar PV network has removed 81,960.32 kg CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.
- The EV fleet has travelled a total distance of 665,425.38km.
- IFI signed up to the Micro generation and Mini generation schemes with ESB Networks and Energia, reducing its need for grid power through battery storage.
- IFI is collaborating with SEAI on the Reduce Your Use campaign and participating in a public service case study.
What's next?
As one of Ireland's core environmental agencies, IFI is committed to deliver and excel in its national obligations in respect of climate action.
The public body has committed to further investment in Solar PV systems including battery storage, wind energy, internal EV charging points, exploring opportunities for shared services of their EV charging network, and additional EVs and e-bikes. They plan to install heat pumps where practical and continue property retrofits to achieve BER B standard.
"IFI will continue to consolidate its EMS to help minimise the impact on the environment resulting from IFI activities and facilities. Capital expenditure has been committed to these projects annually to 2030. Engaging people will play a cornerstone role in achieving all our 2050 targets," said Thomas McGrory.
See all SEAI Energy Award winners