Renewable technology first for Limerick County Council

Limerick County Council estimates that the project, delivered by leading solar electricity provider Cool Power Ltd, will reduce the local authority’s fossil energy consumption in the buildings by 15%.

Photovoltaic (PV) technology converts sunlight into electricity. The majority of existing solar technologies used in state-owned premises throughout the country use sunlight to heat water only.

"When Limerick County Council embarked in the construction of new corporate buildings, one of the key issues was sustainability," stated Chris Barry, Facilities Manager with Limerick County Council.

He added, "Environmental policies are constantly changing and, as a local authority, we need to advocate renewable technologies and how they can be used in an appropriate way. This project fits in with the overall energy strategy of the council and the Governments National Climate Change Strategy 2007-12, which aims to provide for 15% of electricity to be generated from renewable by 2010."

Limerick County Councils’ new naturally ventilated state-of-the-art County Hall was opened in 2003 and, since then, Limerick County Council has been looking at ways of complementing its highly efficient design with new technologies to provide sources of renewable energy. In 2006, the Council started looking at different proposals to install PV arrays around the building, initially for the new County Hall.

Mr. Barry explained that capital costs proved to be an important issue.

He continued, "Cool Power agreed to install the system and remain the owner of the arrays, while Limerick County Council buys the green electricity generated from the system, avoiding the upfront cost of the installation. In the end, we decided to install PV arrays not only in the County Hall, but also in the new Library headquarters, Lissanalta House where the council have also installed solar panels, which provide up to 70% of domestic hot water need."

Limerick County Council will monitor the new system for the next year to get accurate data on energy consumption but it is estimated the Council will reduce it dependence on mains electricity by 10 to 15%, generating electricity seven days a week.

"The system will definitely have an impact reducing our carbon footprint and for compliance purposes with future directives. It is a significant addition to other strategies we have in place to reduce our energy usage and we are proud to be the first local authority taking this step. For example, the Council provides staff bicycles for transport between both buildings utilising the existing cycle path network", Mr. Barry commented.

He added, "Our model can be followed by other organisations. One issue worrying companies is the capital cost, so this route could be taken as an example and it might suit other organizations. Cool Power’s method is allowing us flexibility. Depending on new requirements and how it develops in real time, we have the option to buy the array over the period of its life span or keep buying the electricity produced."

"Getting this far is a great achievement for us and we are now happy to move forward, and replicate this in other areas and new buildings. The PV arrays installation allows Limerick County Council to add on more arrays in the future to meet demand, once the infrastructure is in place. We have built a strong relationship with Cool Power. Tim Cooper is remarkably flexible and his hard work and resilience has made this happen", Mr. Barry concluded.

Commenting on the project, Mr. Tim Cooper, Managing Director of Cool Power, said, "This project represents the first large solar PV system install on state owned buildings; the first independently financed large PV system and the first sale of 100% renewable locally generated electricity to a large customer."

He pointed out that Cool Power was unique in that it had a license from the Central Energy Regulator (CER) to trade in electricity generated from a renewable source.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Chris Barry, Facilities Manager with Limerick County Council is available for interview and further comment. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High resolution images of the Photovoltaic arrays are available on request.
- PV arrays are collections of interlinked photovoltaic modules, each made of multiple interconnected solar cells.
- Cool Power is the leading provider of solar electricity (PV) in Ireland. Working for over a decade with this technology it was the first to install a ‘Grid Connected’ system in Ireland. Cool Power provides advice and also supplies and installs commercial and residential systems all over Ireland. Cool Power has advised and supplied solar solutions to projects such as: The Green Building Temple Bar, Newbridge Silverware, Irish Lights, The EPA and Tesco's new Eco store in Tramore. Cool Power, while expert in large commercial projects is also advising developers, architects, engineers and home owners on the most economic and sustainable way to incorporate renewable energy technology into domestic homes. Cool Power is working on new apartment blocks, hotels, public buildings, as well as retro fits on many existing buildings. Cool Power has a world wide patent on new technology that now makes solar PV more efficient in use. Cool Power’s patented product EMMA, revolutionises how buildings will install solar PV going forward. Cool Power's technology is the simplest and most economic way to meet the new Part-L of the new Irish building regulations. Now architects and property owners have a very simple and elegant way to incorporate both energy efficiency and design, along with world class renewable energy technology into their buildings. To find out more about Cool Power visit www.coolpower.ie

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900