energy co-operatives ireland - energy ireland · renewable energy co-operatives in europe (rescoop)...
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Renewable Energy Co-operatives in Europe (REScoop)
A REScoop is:
A Group of citizens coming together to
promote their Community’s participation in
the Transition to Carbon free society by
promoting Local energy Efficiency and Renewable energy projects.
Renewable Energy Co-operatives in Europe (REScoop)
1,250 REScoops in Europewith 300,000 Members
Renewable Energy Co-operatives in Europe (REScoop)
Small community PV Developments 100Kw- 5MW
District Heating Co-ops in towns
Large Scale Generation: Wind and PV >5MW
Municipal co-ops supplying energy to entire cities
ECI REScoop Federative Body Ireland
4 RE Co-ops in Ireland in 2016 – 3 more in pipeline for 2017
•Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)•Three year SEAI support programme with 56 participating communities in 2016•Expected to increase year on year
ECI REScoop Federative Body Ireland
•A Structured Approach with 5 year target•Toolkit of resources and guidance on best practice•Catalyst for action on the ground •Delivering national Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Generation targets from local level upwards
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)
Community Engagement
Community Benefit
Community Shared Ownership
Community Owned Projects
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Engagement: SOME examples of Key PV Benefits
•Climate Change mitigation
•Fuel import replacement
•Biodiversity opportunities
•Employment benefits
•Participation in transition to low carbon society
•Planning process improved with key stakeholders
…And there are very many more
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Benefit: SOME examples of PV Benefit Models
1. Annual dividend to local community members
•Requires long term oversight and involvement
2. Community benefit bursaries
•Requires long-term oversight, can divide competing
community groups
3. Developer Community Partnerships
•Oversight of SEAI - SEC program, intra-sector projects, PV for
schools, etc. Short term engagement long term impact
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Shared Ownership:
•Where economics permit (4 to 5MW and higher?)
•A Percentage of project offered to community (non-voting)
•Community established as co-operative
•SEC supports utilized
•Phase 1: Local debentures-offer
•Phase 2: Remaining community debentures offered nationally
•Phase 3: Unsold debentures revert to project leaders
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Shared Ownership:
•State support through tax-scheme (extension of EIIS )
•Upper investment limit of €20,000 per individual
•Small investors encouraged: maximize social benefit & participation.
•Improved community price rating?
•Local community’s investment prioritized
•RE project benefits opened up to wider community at later stages
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Full Ownership:
•SEC initiated projects (full access to specialist technical, legal and
financial advice via SEAI program)
•Scale from 100Kw-5MW (but no effective upper limit)
•Partnership with specialist PV contractors
•Engagement with Local Authority
•Local Share offer
•Debt finance AND/OR Crowd Funding
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)Community Full Ownership:
•Small Suburban PV Gardens 1MW aggregated production
•Partnership between Local Authority, Community and adjacent
large energy user (semi-auto production)
•Medium scale 5MW PV Park with Local Authority support selling
direct to grid
Renewable Energy Community Participation (PV)
Community Participation Summary:
•RESCOOPS (European support network)
•SEC program supporting community benefits
•Special rating for community projects
•EIIS designation for RE community level (<€20k) investments
•National spread of potential community participating investors
