Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme
Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC)
IT Sligo, Contract Research Unit, is the regional coordinator for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme for the Border and West Regions. With a team of SEC Regional Coordinators (RCs) and County Mentors (CMs) we provide mentor-ship to over 140 SEC’s across the region.
The SEAI is calling on community groups across Ireland to join the dedicated SEC Network. The aim of the Network is to catalyse and support a national movement of SECs operating in every part of the country.
An SEC is a community in which everyone works together to develop a sustainable energy system. To do so, they aim as far as possible to be energy efficient, to use renewable energy where feasible and to develop decentralised energy supplies.
The SEC Programme is designed to enable communities to manage and save energy across all sectors. Being a member of the SEC Network enables SECs to engage and learn from existing SECs, energy project site visits, capacity building workshops, local and regional SEC events, and case studies.
As part of the network, SEAI will help the community to identify and put in place sustainable energy initiatives. An SEC may also choose to go into a partnership with SEAI and will then be eligible to apply for dedicated funding to develop their Community Energy Master Plan and set energy objectives through the Register of Opportunities.
The SEC Programme significantly supports the Government White Paper on Energy “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030” which acknowledges the critical role of communities in facilitating the development of energy infrastructure and in developing energy efficiency, security and sustainability.