Our story
In 2014 the ARC Healthy Living Centre approached the Housing Executive with a concept to provide renewable energy for a community scheme within the Sally's Wood estate in Irvinestown.
This proposal was refined and developed into a funding application (branded as the HANDIHEAT Project), which focused on identifying the means by which domestic heating solutions utilising renewable energy sources could be developed and implemented in rural communities across the project area of Northern Europe.
The second HANDIHEAT pilot demonstration aims to explore the potential improved energy efficiency and low-carbon heating solutions for six homes in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. This pilot will evaluate a combination of hybrid heating and electric generation and storage installations in these properties, including oil boilers with air source heat pumps; solar photovoltaic panels; and battery storage systems as well as energy-efficient insulation measures. In the strategic context of the Climate Change Act there is an imperative to find alternative energy sources to counteract the current high level of fossil fuel consumption, particularly in rural settlements that do not have access to alternative sources of low-carbon heating.
The Fermanagh pilot was also supported by associate partners, Electric Storage Company, which specialises in energy storage solutions (storage batteries) and staff from Ulster University, who analysed and monitored the effectiveness of the hybrid systems over a 24-month period. Data from the pilot has been analysed to assess the suitability of low-carbon and hybrid options as alternatives to oil-fired boilers, which are still the predominant fuel source currently being installed in Northern Ireland.
Our advice
Collaboration and partnership is essential. We had ARC Healthy Living Centre: an essential support network for rural Enniskillen communities and Clar Irish Centre of Housing in Claremorris, Co Mayo who had close links to their local community. We brought in academic experts from Northern European countries how had experience in rural solutions, researchers from Ulster University and collaborative learning from other EU-funded projects, eg EU Interreg SPIRE2 project via Ulster Univerisity. Engaging with industry innovators was key to ensure business models became sustainable. In Northern Ireland the Electric Storage Company provided a vision for electric generation and storage, from ROI, grant boilers offered solutions for hybrid electric heating and data monitoring from climate in Dundalk. Collaboration was essential to provide solutions for rural householders.
We needed more data sensors and to ensure that data was uploaded on a regular basis. The project demonstrated that thermal improvements are only part of the solution for low carbon solutions, a need for electric tariff change is also a necessary ingredient.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the savings in oil consumption, solar PV / electric storage, and carbon reductions to the grid.
