Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson called for greater ambition on climate action at a major climate conference at University College Cork (UCC) ahead of COP28. The call comes as one of Ireland’s leading energy experts warns that Ireland is not on track to meet carbon budget targets. World leaders will need to show greater […]
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published a study assessing communal heating systems in Ireland, focussing on the challenges for users and operators arising from the recent energy price crisis. The aims of the study were to understand how typical communal heating systems operate in Ireland and assess options for alternative low carbon heat […]
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, launched the commencement of the first phase of the Solar for Schools Programme. It will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. The scheme […]
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (dlr) County Council and SSE Airtricity Energy Services are delighted to announce their award in the SEAI 2023 Residential Energy Upgrades category. The prestigious award recognises their outstanding collaboration in upgrading the Beaufort Housing in Glasthule, comprising of 58 residential units, a day care centre, and kitchens. The upgrades have
Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, in conjunction with Clare Libraries, will be hosting five ‘Winter Wildlife Talks’ during November and December at libraries in Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush Children, adults, and community groups can learn about biodiversity projects that are taking place in County Clare. The events will see three expert speakers tailor separate
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced funding of almost €2.3 million to support the development of 50 outdoor recreation projects across Ireland. The investment under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) will be key to enhancing outdoor amenities such as our walkways, cycleways, rivers, lakes and beaches. The
DCC Energy has acquired Progas, a German nationwide business founded in 1949, to grow its zero-carbon energy management business. It would mark DCC’s biggest ever acquisition in Germany for around £140m. Once combined with TEGA, their existing business, the company starts with over 100,000 customers. DCC Energy intend to make ‘Cleaner Energy in your Power’ […]
The Government has published the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ report, which outlines a new strategy to ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while ensuring a sustainable transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050. The comprehensive report, which has 28 actions in total, is a roadmap to ensuring a sustainable, […]
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, and French Energy Minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, have marked the commencement of construction work on the Celtic Interconnector project. The acknowledgement of the project’s commencement took place at the EirGrid offices in Dublin, following a visit by Minister Pannier-Runacher to Ireland. The
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has published reports from a market surveillance campaign of electric motors and water pumps available in Ireland and Europe. Several products were found to be non-compliant with EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations in areas such as their Declaration of Conformity and Technical Documentation. SEAI conducted the
The Government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group reached an agreement that paves the way for Government-backed, low-interest home energy upgrade loans. The agreement, signed by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath and Dr Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, marks a
Green consultancy firm, VisionGreen, is planning an expansion of its business, with plans to add a range of new roles over the next two years. When the new positions are announced, they will be in the areas of energy management, carbon management, and software development in the company, as it looks to scale up operations, […]
EirGrid (Ireland’s transmission system operator) has recently published its outlook for the upcoming winter. The winter period is the time of peak electricity consumption in Ireland and so also when the risk is highest for insufficient electricity supply to meet demand. KPMG Ireland’s Sustainable Futures team explore below how Ireland can keep the lights on […]
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, announced that Bord Bia will commence the largest ever national campaign for Irish organics. The campaign commences on November 6th and runs until December 17th, with a second burst in spring 2024. The Minister made the announcement at the Natexpo […]
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has launched a Sustainable Laboratories Certification Pilot Programme, led by SFI. The programme, in partnership with international non-profit organisation, My Green Lab, aims to bring best-in-class, sustainable research practices into Irish labs. This is a global first, as
Galway City Council will become the first Local Authority in the country to eliminate road diesel in its larger fleet, by transitioning to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a renewable fuel source. HVO eliminates up to 90% of net Carbon Dioxide emissions and reduces harmful pollutants such as Nitrogen Dioxide and particulate matter, which can […]
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) held a conference to showcase measures for decarbonising industry fleets to meet transport targets. Representatives from public and business sectors attended the event which provided direction on how to decarbonise their fleet and meet their transport targets. A key objective of the government’s transport policy to 2030 is
The Government’s ‘Be Winter-Ready’ 2023-2024 Information Campaign launched with the message: “Road Safety: Plan, Prepare, Be Aware”. Tánaiste, Minister for Defence and Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, Micheál Martin, was joined at the launch by Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics, Jack Chambers
Clare County Council has published the Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, as required pursuant to Section 16 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The draft plan aims to position County Clare as a national leader in climate action and strengthen the delivery of effective climate action at local and community […]
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published vehicles licensed for the first time for September 2023, showing a 50% increase in the number of new electric cars registered so far this year. The number of new cars licensed in September 2023 decreased by 433 vehicles (-9%) compared with September 2022. In the first nine months […]