ESB launches ‘future electricity network’ project in Dingle

ELECTRICITY on the Dingle Peninsula was the subject of two meetings which took place on the same day one week apart in the Dingle Skellig Hotel.

ESB Networks outlined plans for their Dingle project, which will be rolled out over the next two to three years, on this Tuesday. The project, which will focus on “testing the network infrastructure with new technologies” will apply to all of the Dingle Peninsula, according to Marguerite Sayers, Managing Director of ESB Networks.

“How ESB Networks can best deploy a range of new technologies to help lead Ireland’s transition to a brighter energy future” is one of the six key areas covered by this project, which also includes energy in the community, electric vehicle infrastructure, residential houses, and network resilience.

As part of the project ESB Networks will carry out a “deep retro-fit on five houses, installing heating air-source heatpumps, solar panels and storage batteries”. The cost of this will be covered by ESB Networks and the five test houses will be selected on the basis of a competition to be run with local media.

A further 100 homes will be selected to take part in a ‘smart’ water-heating control project and these will also be selected through competition. The aim of this project is to “normalise the use of these technologies in the community” Marguerite said.

Aside from those who get involved in the ESB test project by way of the planned competitions, other West Kerry residents will also be able to participate as long as they purchase their own green energy technologies . At the Skellig Hotel on Tuesday, representatives of SSEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland were on hand to explain what grants are available for this type of technology.

While there is no stated limit on the number of houses that can be involved in the project, Marguerite added that part of the research aims to find out how the electricity network responds to the extra draw created by an increased use of technologies. They are also working with builders to encourage the inclusion of electric vehicle charging points in new houses.

She also added that there was a possibility of a community solar farm as a commercial venture in West Kerry, but there were no further details on this.

Marguerite emphasised that “no one is being forced to adapt this technology, it is only done by consent”.

Schools business people and community groups were present for the launch as were local ESB Networks engineers, who were highly praised by Marguertie Sayers for their work.

For the duration of the projects Electric Ireland will maintain a presence in Dingle. John Fitzgerald, project manager, will be based at the Dingle Hub in Cooleen, and Deirdre de Bhailís will be on hand to answer questions, added Marguerite. Their email address is Dingle@esbnetworks.ie

A week before the launch of the ESB’s plans, a public meeting was held in the Skellig by ‘Wired Atlantic Way’, a group which formed to provide information on research that has been under- taken on the potential impacts on people’s health of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) emitted by wireless technologies.

Over 60 people attended the meeting on Tuesday, March 27, and a spokesperson for Wired Atlantic Way said that while the talks tended to be highly technical people said that they were delighted to hear the information.

Since the public meeting, the group has met with John Fitzgerald Project Manager of the ESB Networks project, and had “a fruitful meeting” where their concerns were listened to.

The spokesperson said Wired Atlantic Way fully supports plans to produce and store electricity locally in a sustainable manner. However, they are promoting the use of ‘wired’ connections as a safe alternative to wireless smart meters.

The group argues that it would be safer and wiser to “proceed with caution while adopting these new technologies”. They can be contacted through their facebook page.

During this Tuesday’s launch in the Skellig Hotel, Marguerite Sayers confirmed ESB Networks’ commitment to working with the community but added that the technology to implement wired smart meter connections is not available.

Photos by Valerie O’Sullivan Managing Director ESB Networks Marguerite Sayers chatting with Darragh Ó Sé at the launch in the Skellig Hotel on Tuesday of the ESB’s smart electricity project. RIGHT: David Carr and Maggie Breen of Idirlinn, Dingle and Darrach Ó’Murchú of Transition...