Among the Implemented to date include: Waterford Renewable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd WEB coordinated the formation of Waterford Renewable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd, which is an energy cooperative, owned by the community which is facilitating bio energy and wind project development. To date WEB has 45 members, which are made up groups / farmers throughout the county. WRE members are involved in developing biomass resources and energy resources on a commercial scale in the country. WRE members also grow energy crops including rapeseed, Willow and Miscanthus. WRE has also assisted in the development of a Demonstration Sustainable Energy farm near Dunhill County Waterford. WRE members provide the following products: Wood Chips for commercial boilers, Hardwood logs for solid fuel stoves and boilers for the domestic market and Miscanthus for commercial boilers. Funding for formation of the co-operative was made through EU Intelligent Energy for Europe funding program. WEB provides secretarial and technical support to the co-operative. Further detail relating to the cooperative can be found at www.wrecoop.ie. Local Authorities Energy Management and Efficiency WEB provides an Energy Management Service to both Waterford City & County Council electrical accounts, which includes electricity procurement, tariff changes and electrical account management. Typical annual energy cost savings through effective energy management and energy procurement typically has energy cost savings of 70,000 in energy procurement costs savings and approximately 40,000 in energy management savings in 2010. The annual energy cost savings through effective energy management and energy procurement typically has savings of 50,000 in procurement costs savings and approximately 20,000 in energy management savings in 2010.
FAS Training Course on Energy Efficiency / Renewable Energy Waterford County Council / Waterford Energy Bureau in 2008 completed the development and piloting of a training course in partnership with FAS on Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Technologies. The six day national course which is in the process of achieving FETAC level 6 certification includes two three day modules targeted at technical persons within Local Authorities, Consultancies and commercial/industries. The program has been developed in response to the Government White Paper Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future in Ireland. The Energy White Paper commits to a 20% energy efficiency gain in the private sector by 20202 and a 33% improvement in the Public Sector in the same time. Areas covered in the two day Energy Efficiency Training modules include Energy Policies, Energy Management, and Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Motive Power Applications, and Building Energy Management Systems. Areas covered in the training modules on Renewable Energy technology include, biomass thermal systems, heat pump technology, solar water heating, combined heat and power plants and renewable energy technologies for electrical integration. Waterford County Council was delighted to continue its partnership with FAS in developing a training course on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, which was piloted in April/May. The six day training course which is in the process of achieving FETAC level 6 certification includes two three day modules targeted at technical persons within Local Authorities, Consultancies and Commercial/industries. Areas covered in the two day Energy Efficiency Training modules include Energy policies, Energy Management Systems. Areas covered in the training modules on Renewable Energy technology include, biomass thermal systems, heat pump technology, solar water heating, combined heat and power plants and renewable energy technologies for electrical integration.
Micro Wind Turbine Installations Waterford County Council has installed three micro wind turbines at exposed pumping stations/ hillier plants. The turbines are installed in the following locations: 1. Carrickavantry Filter Station 2. Cooladyne Upper, Lismore, Filter station/resevoir 3. Sporthouse Resevoir, Butlerstown, Tramore The turbines provide partial electrical demand of the sites, any excess electricity generated is exported to the national grid. This initiative is the first time WCC entered the market of electrical generation. Typical electrical output from the turbines is in the range of 4,000-6,000 Kwh.Yr. The installation of these turbines will contribute to reducing WCCs carbon footprint. FAS Training Course on Carbon Footprint Reduction & Certification The Carbon Footprint Reduction Training & Certification Training Program has been developed in partnership between Waterford County Council, FAS and the Construction Industry Federation. The program has been designed to meet the training and certification needs of both public and private sector staff involved in determining and reducing the Carbon Footprint and implementing cost-effective climate change initiatives / strategies in their organizations. The training course was developed to assist participants in identifying cost saving and operation efficiency opportunities, develop the skills and tools required to implement a carbon reduction plan, understanding the policies / regulations associated with climate change and assist Business, Local Authorities and State Agencies develop / implement their Climate Change Strategy. The training course was piloted in May 2009 and has been taken over by FAS that will run the training course.
Biogas energy production in Agriculture Waterford County Council. and Waterford IT have collaborated to produce a guidance document to advise Irish farmers and other groups in the development of anaerobic digestion plants. Anaerobic digestion is a controlled process where biomass (such as plant matter, manures and wastes) is broken down by microorganisms to produce biogas. This biogas has a high proportion of methane and can be burnt as a fuel to produce heat and electricity. The Guide assists farmers/developers in evaluating the feasibility of proposed AD. The economic justification of an AD Plant is on a case by case basis and will be effected by the type/variety of feedstock which includes manures (cattle, pig & poultry), organic fraction of municipal solid wastes, industry/food wastes, animal byproducts, catering wastes, sewage sludge and plant matter (crops and crop residues). The introduction of a feed in tariff, where the unit rate of electricity is 0.12 per KWh and rising price of heat energy will contribute to the economic justification of AD Plants. The Guidance document is available from Waterford Energy Bureau at the cost of 18, which includes posting and can be ordered by emailing info@waterfordenergy.ie or calling 051 395531. Funding to develop the Guidance Document was received under Waterford Institute of Technology and Waterford Energy Bureau funded by INTERREG III A. Waterford County Council Biodiesel Project WCC installed a dual pump biodiesel system at its depot in Dungarvan. Currently seven vehicles are operating on 15% biodiesel mix and an environmental inspectors runs on 30% biodiesel. Waste cooking oil collected at the Dungarvan Civic Amenity site is processed Eco-ola into biodiesel, which in turn is used in WCC vehicles.
Cappoquinn Social Housing Projects The Waterford County Council Social Housing Development at Gort a Scolaire, Cappoquinn 1 No. 2 Bed bungalow. 6 No. 2 Bed Semi- detached two storey. 2 No. 4 Bed Semi-detached two storeys. Waterford County Council Housing Department designed and oversaw the construction of the project, with Waterford Energy Bureau had the responsibility for the energy services within the houses. High Specification Insulation measures included within the houses included, 150mm foil backed insulation within the floor slab, and 80mm foil back cavity wall insulation, 400mm fibre insulation within the attic space and low energy consuming glazing. Each of the two storey houses is south facing and solar panels have been fitted, which provides approximately 70% of the hot water requirements of the occupants. Two of the houses have wood pellet boilers fitted, which provides the heating requirement and with the solar water installation the remainder of the hot water requirement. The pellet boilers are designed and manufactured in Ireland and were installed as part of the pilot scheme. The installation of the Renewable Energy Technologies was co-ordinated by Waterford Energy Bureau and Waterford County Council. District Heating Feasibility Study A district heating feasibility study was carried out in 2009 of Dungarvan as a means of assessing the feasibility of installing a district heating system that would be powered by locally grown forestry tinnings and miscanthus. The economical justification for a district heating network is most favorable to towns that are not on the gas network. To date there are a number of biomass boilers that burn wood chips and pellets located in Dungarvan, which highlights that there is a thriving bioenergy industry in Waterford. The increasing cost of oil has contributed to making the feasibility of the district heating
system circuits more favorable. Two out of the seven circuits highlighted in the study are currently economically justifiable however theseschemes have yet to find a third party that is willing to develop the schemes. Four public Information stands are located at: Waterford Energy Bureau has four public information stands, where the general public can access information on Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies and Grant Information. These stands are located at the following locations; a. The Civic Offices in Tramore, Co. Waterford b. The main Library in Dungarvan, Co Waterford c. The main library ( Lady Lane ) in Waterford City d. The Public library in Ardkeen Village, Waterford City Sustainable Energy Policy Development The need for the adoption of national / EU polices on a local basis is imperative to sustainable development of Waterford. The development of sustainable technologies and adoption of energy efficient practices is one of the corner stone on sustainable development. To date WEB have made submissions to relevant City / County / Local Area Plans, where aspects of the submissions have been included within the plans where relevant. Building Energy Rating of Local Authority Buildings The Display Energy Certificates have been prepared for both Waterford City and County Council Buildings which have a floor area of above 1000 M 2 for 2009 and 2010. This ensures that Local Authority Buildings above 1000 M 2, comply with national and EU requirements as set under the Building Energy Directive.
Waterford County Council Climate Change Strategy The Waterford County Council Climate Change Strategy was adopted in 2008 as a means of reducing green house gas emissions directly through the actions of the LA and indirectly through the areas of influence of the LA. The WCCCCS will run from 2009 until 2012 and consists of approximately 70 project ideas which are implemented by the WCC Directorates. Items within WEB s work program where applicable are included as project items within the strategy. Publication of Do your Best, Business Environmental Saving Tips Do your Best, Business Environmental Saving Tips, is a practical guide to help businesses of Waterford save money through rational use of energy and water resources, utilization of renewable energy technology, reduce generation of waste and adopt sustainable transport practices. The guide was published and circulated in early 2011 by Waterford City Council/Waterford Energy Bureau in partnership with Waterford City Enterprise Board and was partially funded under the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Environmental Partnership fund. A total of 700 copies of the manual were printed and disseminated to businesses within Waterford City. Carrickpherish Social Housing Project Waterford City Council in partnership with Waterford Energy Bureau received funding from the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government funding for a sustainable energy housing project. Energy Efficient and renewable energy technologies were installed in 111 social houses / apartments in Carrickpherish Waterford. The technologies installed included, gas fired condensing A rated boilers, comprehensive thermostatic heating and hot water control, flat plate solar water heating system, improved insulation attic insulation, wall insulation, floor insulation measures, passive vents and CFL lighting.
Kingfisher Leisure Centre Development The Kingfisher Club Waterford was opened in 2007 and is operated via a public / private partnership between Waterford City Council and Kingfisher Ireland. Prior to construction WEB was successful in sourcing and drawing down of funding from Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland under the model solutions investment scheme for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, which included A combined heat and power plant (CHP) has been installed to generate electricity and heat on site. A heat pump system for heating of changing areas. The showers and hot water system is heated via an evacuated tube solar water heating system The pool shell has been insulated 80mm, Kingspan insulation. Radiant heating was installed in the sports hall area and provides heat via black bulb radiant panels. The air supply systems to areas of the building are controlled by variable speed drives that control fan speed to meet that of the occupancy requirements. Heat is also absorbed from extracted air via heat recovery coils and preheats fresh air into the building. A building management system has been installed in the building controlling all services in the building. Master thermostatic mixers and time delay taps were installed on showers and hand wash basins. A VRF air conditioning system was installed in the building as opposed to split air conditioning units. A number of ceiling cassettes are supplied from a single external condenser via a BC controller which manages free heating and cooling.
Ballygunner Social / affordable Housing Project Waterford City Council in partnership with Waterford Energy Bureau received funding from SEAI under the House of Tommorrow program in 2005. Energy Efficient and renewable energy technologies were installed in 34 social / affordable houses in Ballygunner Waterford. The technologies installed included, gas fired condensing A rated boilers, comprehensive thermostatic heating and hot water control, 30 tube evacuated solar water heating system, improved insulation measures and CFL lighting. Sustainable Energy Policy Development The need for the adoption of national / EU polices on a local basis is imperative to sustainable development of Waterford. The development of sustainable technologies and adoption of energy efficient practices is one of the corner stone on sustainable development. To date WEB have made submissions to relevant City / County / Local Area Plans, where aspects of the submissions have been included within the plans where relevant. Waterford City Council Climate Change Strategy Waterford City Council Climate Change Strategy has been developed in order to implement national /EU / International policy / strategies at a local level. The WCCCCS has been prepared by WEB and revised by the City Council Environment Department. Report on City Council Electrical Vehicle Operation WEB completed in early 2011 a report on the potential for a City Council Environment Inspector vehicle to operate on battery power. Carrickpherish Vehicle Depot Development
In 2007 2008, WEB completed preparation of mechanical & electrical design specifications, tender documents and over saw the installation of the M&E services at the City Council Vehicle Depot in Carrickpherish. Value of installations exceeded 1.5 million. The South-East Bioenergy Implementation plan The South-East Bioenergy Implementation plan is developed to help the region achieve its plan of a leader in the development of bioenergy in Ireland. In this plan targets are set for the use of bioenergy in the heating, electricity and transport sectors. If the targets in the plan are achieved the 17% of the total energy supply will be from biomass in 2020. The objectives of the plan are to: Increase the contribution of bioenergy to the Region s energy balance Reduce the reliance of the Region on imported fossil fuels Decrease the carbon footprint of the Region in terms of greenhouse gas emissions Promote rural development and sustainable agriculture within the Region.