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Sustainable Energy Working Group Clonergy 2020 Mission: To enable the transition of Clonakilty and the surrounding areas to energy neutrality through the use of renewable energy, in order to support a sustainable economy and quality of life for the community. Definition fo the Sustainable Clonakilty Area of Interest: The townlands and
electoral districts of Clonakilty Urban, Clonakilty Rural, Courtmacsherry,
Butlerstown, Abbeymahon, Timoleague, Kilmaloda East, Kilmaloda West,
Kilmacross, Kilmoylerane, Templeomalus, Knocks, Rossmore, Argideen,
Kilkeranmore, Ardfield, Rathbarry, Coolcraheen, Castleventry, Cahermore, Derry
and Rosscarbery. There are three main aims to this project, conserving energy where possible, producing your own renewable energy yourself, and community generation of energy from locally sourced renewable resources. We have received funding from Failte Ireland (part of the 2007 Best Emerging Rural Tourism Destination award prize) to conduct an Energy Audit of the town. This will give us baseline energy consumption figures for the town and thus enable us to predict our energy requirements and measure progress. Güssing, a town the same size as Clonakilty in Austria, reduced its carbon emissions by 93% over the course of 15 years and created over 1,000 jobs through embracing renewable energy technology. A member of our group already working in the energy sector visited Güssing and had some preliminary discussions. It seems that we could move ahead rapidly in our aims if we were to draw on Güssing’s European Centre for Renewable Energy expertise and experience. It could also affect the way we conduct our energy audit, so a fact-finding mission to Güssing was seen as very important. We are grateful to the Clonakilty Mayor and Town Council who at their meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 unanimously supported our application for community funding to facilitate a delegation to travel to Güssing. The expedition took place on 3rd-5th November 2008. Current Members of the Sustainable Energy Working Group Peter Madden (Chair) Alison Wickham (Secretary) Cionnaith O'Suilleabhain, Xavier Dubuisson, Ray Lucy, Trevor Buttimer, Tadhg Healy, Kevin O'Regan Clonergy 2020 Project Plan Click below to read the: Sustainable Clonakilty project outline document in pdf formatFact Sheet on Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland for visit to ECRE, Güssing, Austria, 4 November, 2008Location & Population Clonakilty is located about 3 km from the southwest coast of Ireland. Possible Renewable Energy Natural Resources Solar energy In general Ireland receives between 950 and 1,100 kWh/m2 but non-attributed publications place the Clonakilty area at 1200kWh/m2. Sustainable Energy Ireland: www.sei.ie Members of the Delegation to GüssingAn invitation was issued by the Working Group to Town and County Council representatives and officials, energy and funding agencies as well as local business people whose projects have an impact on the town to accompany the delegation. Despite a great deal of interest shown by a number of people, ultimately they were unable to come due to personal or work commitments. However we are most grateful to the following who made space in their busy lives to go with us: Town Council Cllr Cionnaith O'Suilleabhain Cllr Robert Walsh Town Clerk Justin England Sustainable Clonakilty funded by the Town Council Robert Lambert Peter Madden Alison Wickham, Secretary Sustainable Clonakilty Independently funded Trevor Buttimer, Renewable Energy Management Services Ltd. Bob Hilliard, Hillback Developments Itinerary Güssing Fact Finding MissionMonday 3rd NovemberTravel to Güssing, leaving Clon. at 9am and arriving at 1am local time due to fog delay. Tuesday, 4th of November 2008 8.00am Buffet breakfast at Com Inn, Hotel Walk to ECRE Centre ECRE Program: 09:00 am: Presentation on the ‘Model of Güssing’ 10:00 am: Visit to Biomass Plant Güssing, District heating Plant Güssing and Biogas Plant Strem 12:00 noon: Lunch at the restaurant ‘Cafe Innovation’ 01:30 pm: Discussion with Ing. Reinhard Koch 03.00pm: Visit to ECRE training centre 04:30 pm: Visit to Güssing town centre 7.00pm: Debriefing discussion of day’s events 8.00pm: Dinner Wednesday November 5, 2008 9.00am Buffet breakfast at Com Inn Hotel, pack and onto bus 1030hrs Leave Güssing for Vienna 1300 hrs Arrive Vienna for check in and lunch Depart Vienna on BA701 at 1505 hrs arrive London Heathrow 1630 Depart London Heathrow on BA5723 at 1805hrs arrive Cork 1920 Bus to Clon. arriving at 2100 hrs approx. Thursday November 13, 2008 Public Meeting at the Quality Hotel, Clonakilty to more than 85 people where a MS Power Point presentation described what was seen and learned in Güssing, as well as alerting local people to the need to keep their energy bills in order to be able to assist in the energy audit. To view or download the full visit report (8.0mb pdf document) please check here ******************************************************************************************* Background ReadingArticle on Güssing, Austria by Richard Douthwaite
Article on Güssing, Austria from International Herald Tribune:A town of 4,000 people who went from depressed area to economic success through renewable energy sustainabiltiy in a space of 15 years. http://www.iht.com/articles Article on Güssing, Austria from European Centre for Renewable Energy A copy of the presentation by members of the energy group to the Eden Conference Inchydoney Hotel Feb 2009 is available here |
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