As a rural county with a robust working landscape, an abundance of natural resources, excellent road and energy infrastructure, Tipperary has many advantages to support renewable energy developments.

Over the past decades, the county has become a net exporter of electricity through renewable resources and large-scale renewable energy projects, such as the wind farm at the former Lisheen Mine, have become best-practice examples of how rural industrial sites can be transformed and re-developed with support from local communities.

Community ownership

Tipperary’s communities have been leading the way in embracing the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. It is home to the only community wind farm in the country, at Templederry, which was developed by local people looking at ways to generate employment and keep investment in their local area.

The wind farm now produces enough electricity to power 3,500 homes and will generate an income for local people for many years to come. Cloughjordan Eco-Village is the first of its kind in the country, where energy-efficient homes are supported by an on-site renewable district heating system.

Rural communities across the county are also embracing energy-efficient projects, including the award-winning Drombane-Upperchurch Energy Team, a local group which has delivered the retrofitting of over 50 houses and a community centre.

Planning

Bearing in mind this background and achievements, elected members of Tipperary County Council have been anxious to establish a strong, responsive planning policy framework that would deliver an increase in energy production through renewable energy resources, assisting investors and businesses, and supporting communities in their ambitions for their local areas.

This led the Planning Department, with expert assistance from the Tipperary Energy Agency, to prepare a new county-wide Renewable Energy Strategy in 2015. The Strategy was adopted in 2016, following extensive stakeholders and community consultation, and provides the Council’s statutory planning policy for the renewable energy development ranging from large scale bio-energy projects to domestic solar panels. It provides direction and certainty for any company or individual looking to invest in renewable energy developments.

How do we support location communities in developing their own renewable energy infrastructure?

Through the process, councillors worked with planning staff, asking questions such as: “How do we support location communities in developing their own renewable energy infrastructure? What makes Tipperary unique in renewable energy? What can we learn from Denmark? How do we use our resources in a sustainable way? How can we create jobs?”

The idea for the Energy in Agriculture event was born directly from the preparation of the Renewable Energy Strategy, discussions on the huge potential in the agriculture sector for renewable energy production and job creation, and to actively assist and support Tipperary’s internationally-renowned farming community.

Partnership

Like all good ideas, bringing together the right experts and partners was key to the success of the event. Building on established partnerships and working relationships, it brought together Teagasc and the IFA, as key agencies in the farming community, Gurteen College, which has put education in renewable energy at the forefront, and the nationally-recognised Tipperary Energy Agency.

This partnership was critical to the success of the event in 2016, and in 2017 they (along with the Council) have worked together to develop a knowledge transfer event which is tailored to the current needs of and opportunities in the farming community.

Often preparing planning applications is a venture into the unknown

The Council is mindful that developing renewable energy projects and energy efficient technologies often requires significant investment by the farming community, and often preparing planning applications is a venture into the unknown. In this regard, many micro-renewable energy technologies, such as small- scale wind turbines, biomass boilers and solar panels, subject to conditions, are exempt from the planning process.

Moreover, planning authorities across the country provide a free pre-planning clinic consultation service, where you can meet with the planner and be guided on the key areas for assessment, such as requirements for Environmental Impact Assessments and County Development Plan policies.

Talking to your neighbours at an early stage and getting an expert planning agent who deals with applications on a daily basis, are key aspects which lead to successful planning applications.

At this year’s conference, Tipperary County Council’s Planning Section will host a planning consultation clinic and will be delighted to provide a steer, to start a renewable energy or efficiency journey.

Solar panels on public buildings

Tipperary is now embarking on the next step to a sustainable energy future by signing up to the Covent of Mayors – a voluntary European Movement by regional and local authorities across Europe, to go beyond 2020 renewable energy targets. The Council has already become the highest-performing local authority in respect of energy efficiency improvements, improvement, which included the installation of solar panels across local authority buildings in 2014, but it’s ready for the next challenge.

The Council is now committed to reducing Tipperary’s CO2 emission by 30% from the 2005 baseline year through the implementation of a Sustainable Energy Action Plan, with actions across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, planning, residential, local authority and commercial sectors.

The Energy in Agriculture conference is taking place in Gurteen College, Co Tipperary, on 22 August, from 10am until 5pm. The event is free and KT-approved. Register online to attend and book individual advice clinics.

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