Over 300 rural families to benefit from renewable energy project

An innovative new initiative has been launched in the midlands, which will see families benefit from surplus renewable energy, writes Deirdre Verney.

Deirdre Verney

24 December 2024

Over 300 rural families to benefit from renewable energy project

Minister Peter Burke at the EnergyCloud AWS launch in Offaly County Council. From left to right: Offaly County Council deputy chief executive Ann Dillon; Yvonne O'Brien Bogdanovic, regional public affairs manager, Wind Energy Ireland; Minister Peter Burke; Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy; Alan Wyley, CEO Energy Cloud; and Neil Morris, Amazon Web Services (AWS) country lead Ireland & operations director. / Paul Moore Photography.

Over 300 families in the midlands will benefit from a new EnergyCloud project, launched in Offaly by Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke.The initiative, which was announced as part of an ongoing collaboration between not-for-profit EnergyCloud Ireland and Amazon Web Services (AWS), will enable 300 families in the region to receive free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy.

Over 300 families in the midlands will benefit from a new EnergyCloud project, launched in Offaly by Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke.

The initiative, which was announced as part of an ongoing collaboration between not-for-profit EnergyCloud Ireland and Amazon Web Services (AWS), will enable 300 families in the region to receive free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy.

The families will have their homes equipped with an EnergyCloud-enabled smart device to allow them to benefit from free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy.

The device uses surplus renewable energy, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat immersion tanks.

The first families to benefit from the innovative energy venture will happen in collaboration with Offaly County Council.

Innovative technology

Leas-cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy said the local authority is delighted to be part of this EnergyCloud Initiative.

“[It] connects the innovative technologies in our Tullamore decarbonisation zone with our stated aims in our climate action plan to use surplus renewable energy to help those in energy poverty across the whole county.”

Speaking at the launch of the programme in Tullamore, Minister Peter Burke said this is an “ambitious and creative project” between EnergyCloud Ireland and Amazon Web Services and he is delighted to have the opportunity to officially launch this programme in Offaly.

“The Government has clear ambitions under the climate action plan to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and utilise renewable energy as efficiently as possible.

“This innovative project matches these government goals using surplus renewable energy and smart technology to help those in energy poverty, helping to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint. The Government is delighted to see Eirgrid and ESB as key partners in this EnergyCloud initiative, which underpins our climate action plan.”

Investment

Country lead for Ireland at AWS Neil Morris said they has been investing in Ireland for over 15 years and this collaboration with EnergyCloud Ireland highlights a continued commitment to local communities.

Meanwhile, CEO of EnergyCloud Ireland Alan Wyley added: “Access to free renewable energy means that families that are part of the EnergyCloud project can simultaneously save money on electricity, while reducing their use of fossil fuels and is a clear example of how targeted energy measures can help those most in need.

“The project is a win-win-win as we are collectively creating solutions for surplus energy rather than simply switching off wind turbines and solar panels.

"For example, according to EirGrid, in the last three weeks renewable wind energy was dispatched down with an approximate retail value of over €75m.”