Eco Evolution Blog

Update! The department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have extended the public consultation until 18 September 2015.

The future of energy is in your hands!

The consultations will help determine the criteria for financial support schemes to replace existing programmes, including the REFIT schemes, which expire at the end of this year. They both emphasise the importance of citizen and stakeholder engagement in the development of renewable energy policy and infrastructure.

Renewable Energy Support Scheme – Public Consultation 2015

 Minister White said: “Encouraging the use of renewable electricity and heat sources will help us meet ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and tackle global warming. The energy White Paper, which I will publish in October, will set us on a path to transform Ireland’s energy production and consumption patterns so that, by 2050, our system will be largely decarbonised. One objective is to develop and broaden the range of renewable energy technologies at our disposal, which will also drive innovation and create green jobs.
“Our energy transition must respect citizens, who recognise the need to stop global warming, but who may also be concerned about the impact of energy technology and infrastructure on their communities. These consultations give everyone the opportunity to express their views on the renewable electricity and heat technologies that Government could support, before any decisions are made.”

The annual “Practical On-farm Renewable Energy” event will be held on Tuesday 28 October at Greenmount Campus. DARD has again joined forces with the UFU, and AFBI to provide practical information for farmers and the rural sector about the various renewable energy options available for their businesses. This is a FREE event and is open to the public from 11.00am – 8.30pm. The follow-up event at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus will be held in February 2015.

Shane’s Castle Archimedes Screw Installation – largest single screw ever to be manufactured & first to be installed in Northern Ireland

Renewable energy technologies continue to offer significant potential to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of farm businesses through reducing and enabling additional income streams, when employed in the appropriate situation. This event seeks to assist farmers and growers with identifying which technology, if any, is appropriate for their own business (or domestic) situation. It also aims to provide information and contacts which will aid progress through the many procedures required to bring such projects to fruition.

2nd hydro scheme installed in Northern Ireland for Omagh District Council

There will be a series of seminars throughout the day highlighting local case studies of the main renewable energy technologies; wind power, heat from biomass, biomass production and utilisation, biogas production, solar PV, micro-hydro and energy storage. A second series of seminars will deal with many of issues facing those considering installing a green energy source. Topics covered will include the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), grid connection, planning, NI Renewable Obligation Certificates (NIROC’s), finance and budgeting payback.

The timing of the seminars is such that those attending can dip in and out of the seminars that interest them and spend time talking to some of the trade in the exhibition area or tour the renewable energy installations at Greenmount Campus to see some of the working technologies at first hand. There will be around 30 trade and ancillary stands providing both information on the various renewable energy technologies and guidance in overcoming any barriers to implementations.

For further details, contact David Trimble at 028 9442 6682 or david.trimble@dardni.gov.uk.

Eco Evolution offer a friendly one-stop shop for hydro development in both Ireland and the UK from feasibility studies to licensing, to installation and commissioning and everything in between!

On Saturday November 30th NUI Kilkenny Campus held its annual Presentation of Certificate ceremony. Professor Rowena Peccehnino, Dean of  the Faculty of Social Science at NUI Maynooth, and Head of the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting presented the Certificates with the help of Dr. Willie Smyth and Maeve O’Byrne, Acting Head of Campus.

Certificates were awarded to over 70 students on the day. As tutor of the NUI Certificate in Renewable Energy, Technologies and Systems course it was a privilege to be invited along to be part of the celebrations and see the students receive their certificates.

The course provided the students with a broad overview of micro and small scale renewable energy technologies and systems. These included wind turbines, hydro turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass. It  introduced the science behind the technologies, and the applications of this science including opportunities for small business development and/or further education. The programme was designed and delivered by Frank and the Dept. of Electronic Engineering, NUI Maynooth and was ran at Kilkenny Campus. It used an innovative mix of online learning and face to face contact.

Module 1: Renewable Energy Technology
An overview of Renewable Energy in the national and international context (energy usage, resources grid etc); and Renewable Energy Technologies including wind, hydro, solar PV and heating, heating pumps, and ocean energy.

Module 2: Renewable Energy Design Case Study 
This module involved each student picking a technology area from the following list: wind energy (micro or commercial); small hydro, solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps. Each student completed a project including resource quantification, design and specification of a renewable energy installation, a calculation of the likely energy output and an approximate economic analysis of the project.

Module 3: Renewable Energy Industry Seminar Series 
This module was delivered through e-learning (Moodle) and allowed participants access to the wealth of commercial expertise in design, installation, management, financing and operation of renewable energy installations in Ireland. The objective was to tap into the expertise and to the issues associated with real world implementation of renewable energy technology.

We wish the lads the best of  luck and best wishes for a bright and green future from all of us at Eco Evolution!

The annual “Practical On-farm Renewable Energy” event has now become a fixture in many peoples calendars following its success in previous years. The event will be held once again on Tuesday 29th October at Greenmount Campus. DARD has again joined forces with the UFU, and AFBI to provide practical information for farmers and the rural sector about the various renewable energy options available for their businesses.

The follow-up event at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus will also be held in February 2014.

1st to be installed in Northern Ireland and largest single screw to be ever manufactured – Shanes Castle Hydropower

200kW Biomass Boiler fueled by locally sourced wood chip

Evance R9000 5kW Wind Turbine

Representatives from DARD, UFU and AFBI at the meeting to launch the Practical On-farm Renewable Energy event

Following on from its success in 2010, the “Practical On-farm Renewable Energy” event will be held once again on Tuesday 1st  November 2011 at Greenmount Campus. The event will run from 11.00am until 9.00pm in the evening.

DARD has again joined forces with the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to provide practical information for farmers and the rural sector about the various renewable energy options available for their businesses.

There will be a series of seminars throughout the day on each of the main renewable energy technologies; wind power, biomass production and utilisation, anaerobic digestion, solar hot water, micro-hydro and heat pumps.

A second series of seminars will deal with many of issues facing those considering installing a green energy source. Topics covered will include the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), grid connection, planning, NI Renewable Obligation Certificates (NIROC’s), marketing NIROC’s as well as finance and funding options.

In addition there will be a Trade Exhibition and the opportunity to tour the renewable energy installations at Greenmount Campus.

If you are interested in exhibiting in the trade stand area please contact CAFRE at technology.admin@dardni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9442 6770. As space is limited it will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

For further details contact David Trimble at 028 9442 6682 or david.trimble@dardni.gov.uk.

As a result of feedback from attendees last year, a follow-up event will also be held at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus on 22 February 2012.

Seminar programme for CAFRE, 1 November 2011