Inishowen Sustainable Energy Community

The Inishowen Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) was established in January 2019 with support from Sligo IT. It has developed from engagement between Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP), Inishowen Co-Op, Donegal County Council, and a variety of stakeholders within the community. Its primary function is to explore and support the implementation of best practice solutions focused on sustainability and to communicate learnings to members and the wider community as part of the SEAIs Sustainable Energy Communities Programme.

Download our latest SEC publications here:

Community Edition

Strategic Plan

Feasability Study

The SEC has engaged with the wider community via information sessions and workshops whereby the output has been used to develop a “Community Charter” and inform this Energy Masterplan design.

With the support of SEAI, Inishowen SEC has successfully researched and delivered an Energy Master Plan Study for the Inishowen, its communities, businesses and social enterprise centres. This plan provides a comprehensive overview of energy consumption and energy generation on the Inishowen Peninsula. The Energy Master Plan forms a central platform for Inishowen’s progression towards sustainable energy and the information within can be used to apply for capital grants to upgrade existing housing and commercial building stock.

The Energy Master Plan(EMP) will be launched to the general public Thursday 8^th July at 11am (by zoom) Details to follow on how to register for the event.

In moving towards a more energy efficient Inishowen, the next phase involves supporting our community in the retrofitting of buildings in the region including residential homes, business premises, community centres, sports and recreational clubs etc. Furthermore, we wish to move Inishowen forward as a Centre of Excellence in Community Energy Generation (CEG). Within in the Inishowen SEC will actively work towards community owned generation of our own sustainable energy resources primarily involving electricity generation through solar PV and wind options but also examining potential district heating opportunities and other options. The overriding goal of the strategy is self-sufficiency to the benefit of the Inishowen community, the local and national economy and the environment at large.

The Energy Master Plan is to be used as a roadmap for Inishowen’s progression towards sustainable energy and the information within can be used to apply for capital grants to upgrade existing housing and commercial building stock.

The primary content of the EMP are as set out below:

Quantified current energy consumption of Inishowen SEC – Baseline of electrical, thermal and transport energy demand.
A Register of Opportunities (RoO).
Identified projects that can avail of the Communities Energy Grant and projects that can avail of the SEAIs Communities grant fund.
Propose actions, based on baseline figures, to achieve >10% reduction in energy usage over a 3-, 4- and 5-year period.
Energy Audits of domestic and non-domestic buildings.
Electric vehicle (EV) charger points need to be in Inishowen and costings.
Identified additional/potential energy reductions or alternative energy options.
Identified Key Project Partners for project delivery and funding options.