Electric.ie November/December 2021 Edition

ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 31 83 community and home energy projects to receive grant funding of €57 million under the Community Energy Grant Scheme. U nder the Community Energy Grant Scheme, communities bring together groups of buildings under the same retrofit programme to facilitate community-wide energy improvements – more efficiently and more cost effectively than might otherwise be possible. All projects applying for funding are required to include a community benefit to the project and to include a cross-sectoral approach. Range of improvements Under the programme, funding is provided for a range of improvements to existing buildings to drive energy ef ciency and facilitate the installation of renewable technologies. These include the installation of insulation, This year the grants, administered by SEAI, are for projects supporting the delivery of 2,105 homes and 536 non-domestic projects. Recipients include public sector projects, sports facilities, community buildings and businesses. This substantial government investment supports projects that will achieve energy savings which will amount to €156 million, or 25,000 MWh, each year. Industry News heat pump systems, replacement windows/doors, solar PV (Photo- Voltaic) technology, energy-ef cient lighting, and energy monitors, as well as a host of other energy upgrades. Recipients of funding under this year’s Community Energy Grant Scheme are spread right across the country. Benefits for communities Kilcronan Court and Place Community Centre, based in Clondalkin, Dublin, were awarded funding of almost €23,000 under the 2020 programme. The funding was used to install cavity wall and attic insulation, as well as extensive upgrades to windows, doors and lighting. The substantial works also included a heat pump upgrade. The total cost of the project was just under €46,000. Marianne Ward-O’Leary Maughan, chairperson of the Local Co- operative Committee and actively involved in the Kilcronan Court and Place Community Centre, speaking about the bene ts of the SEAI Community Energy Grant Scheme said: “The Communities programme has given the Kilcronan Court and Place Community Centre a new lease of life. With the heating system upgrade we will now be able to use it throughout the winter and for after school clubs. The centre is the heart of the community, it’s a great amenity and we will all bene t from the upgrade. Huawei Solar Fusion Roadshow visits Kellihers Electrical main branches ‒ Kellihers Electrical would like to thank the many customers that visited the Huawei Solar Fusion Roadshow when it visited the various branch locations across the country during September and October. Ante Bikic, Huawei Team Leader gives a presentation on Inverter and Battery Storage Technology. Good range of equipment on display. Product experts on hand for advice. T he Huawei Solar PV roadshow vehicle was fully equipped with all the latest in inverter and battery storage technology by Huawei, along with Huawei FusionSolar optimisers, grid back-up solutions, and smart metering. Ante Bikic, the Huawei Team Leader brought many individual customers through the products on display in the vehicle. At each event Ante also gave two very informative presentations... 1) Residential Inverter and Battery Storage solutions 2) Commercial Inverter (three phase) inverter solutions.