A new project launched in Galway will enable 150 homes to receive free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy.
Minister Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, was in Galway last week to launch the new EnergyCloud project in conjunction with Amazon Web Services (AWS ).
The initiative, which was announced as part of an ongoing collaboration between not-for-profit EnergyCloud Ireland and Amazon Web Services (AWS ), will see more than 150 Galway families have their homes equipped with an EnergyCloud enabled smart device to allow them to benefit from free tanks of hot water. The device uses surplus renewable energy, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat immersion tanks.
Speaking at the launch of the installation programme at the Gusta Gaoithe wind farm in Ardderroo, Minister of State Dillon said: “This is an ambitious and creative project between EnergyCloud Ireland and Amazon Web Services and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to officially launch this programme in Galway.
“The Government has clear ambitions under the Climate Action Plan in relation to flexible demand management, which maximises the efficiency of our renewable electricity generation and reduces our dependence on fossil fuel generation at peak demand times," Minister Dillon continued.
"As more and more smart energy solutions for renewable energy generation, storage and sharing continue to be developed, the Government expects more homes to be able to take advantage of excess renewable energy, thereby reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint. We know from EirGrid that there is a significant amount of dispatched down renewable energy which could be utilised in other ways, such as to heat hot water tanks. That is why initiatives such as EnergyCloud are so important.”
Neil Morris, country lead for Ireland at AWS, added: “AWS has been investing in Ireland for over 15 years and this collaboration with EnergyCloud Ireland highlights our continued commitment to local communities. EnergyCloud Ireland is a great example of an innovative technology solution where businesses can work together to create positive social impact.”
At the event, Minister Dillon was joined by representatives from Wind Energy Ireland, AWS, EnergyCloud Ireland and a range of state and other agencies.
“The vision of EnergyCloud is to use wind energy which would otherwise be wasted to instead provide hot water for homes living in energy poverty," said Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland. "As a country we are working towards having 80 per cent of Ireland’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030, and that will make us much more weather dependent. Initiatives such as EnergyCloud help to maximise that opportunity to use energy when the wind is blowing, while also helping people in fuel poverty.”
John Mullins, chairperson of EnergyCloud Ireland concluded: “This support from Amazon Web Services will allow EnergyCloud support families throughout Galway. Access to free renewable energy means that families that are part of the EnergyCloud project can simultaneously save money on electricity while reducing their use of fossil fuels.
"The project is a win-win-win as we are collectively creating solutions for surplus energy rather than simply switching off wind turbines and solar panels. For example, according to EirGrid, 5480 GWh of renewable wind energy was dispatched down between 2018 and 2023. That energy could have heated 1.825 billion hot water tanks and the approximate retail value of this wasted wind energy was €1.592 billion.”
