Using the RIPEET methodology in the energy transition on the Aran Islands

The Aran Islands are a group of three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland, with a total area around 46 km2 and a population of 1350 (as per 2022 census).


The islands are the decarbonising zone for county Galway and were chosen late last year to be one of the EU 30 for 2030 renewable islands.


The Aran Islands are the Mirror Ecosystem for the Outer Hebrides in the RIPEET project.

A joint workshop on the Galway County Climate Action Plan in Óstán Árann, Inis Mór on 11th October 2023 was facilitated by Comharchumann Fuinnimh in conjunction with staff from the Galway County Council (responsible for the administrative area of County Galway, excluding Galway City but including the islands) climate unit.

Tina Ryan, Climate Action Coordinator, and her colleague, Rebecca Mooney, Climate Action Officer came along with a colleague from the planning department. While residents and businesses of the three islands were invited, on the day, only Inis Mór residents (including Cathy Ní Ghoill, Manager of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann) were able to attend.

There was also a representative of Aran Ferries and the manager of the new energy agency, Gníomhaireacht Fuinnimh an Iarthar (GFI), Páraic Bairéad. When one lives on an island, gathering a large number of stakeholders is always challenging given travel difficulties and decisions about whether to meet on the islands/mainland.

Photo by Tina Ryan

To start, Tina gave a presentation on the need for a plan given the particularly worrying predictions for 2050 namely - 

  • Predicted increases in the frequency of extreme precipitation which will result in increased risk of surface water and river flooding.

  • Rising sea levels which will increase the risk of coastal erosion and inundation,

  • Increases in droughts and heatwaves which will mean that current experiences of wildfires, damage to biodiversity, low water levels etc will increase.

Galway County Council published a draft local area climate action plan (LACAP) for public consultation in October 2023 and will have it ready for publication in February 2024 having had input from stakeholders. The input of those on the Aran Islands is of particular importance as the islands are the dedicated Decarbonisation Zone for county Galway.

The second part of the workshop involved discussions and brainstorming relation to the LACAP goals, with a special focus on the goals relating to the Aran Islands (including water, energy, heating  transport and housing).

Finally, there was a "visioning" session (following the RIPEET methodology), where participants brainstormed themes on the most important needs of the islands.


The three top priorities were

  • Energy efficient, comfortable homes

  • Energy security

  • Transport on and to/from the islands.

As a first step towards priority 1 "that each home on the islands would achieve a BER rating of B2 and get support to achieve this", an assessment of homes could be carried out by GFI.

A much broader range of stakeholders needs to be involved so that all voices are heard and it is likely that there will be a number of meetings needed to ensure that a vision incorporating the views of all stakeholders is developed.

Photo by Tina Ryan

Using the RIPEET methodology in the energy transition on the Aran Islands

Aran Islands

The Aran Islands are a group of three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland, with a total area around 46 km2 and a population of 1350 (as per 2022 census). The islands are the decarbonising zone for county Galway and were chosen late last year to be one of the EU 30 for 2030 renewable islands. The Aran Islands were the Mirror Ecosystem for the Outer Hebrides in the RIPEET project.

Using the RIPEET methodology in the energy transition on the Aran Islands

The Aran Islands are a group of three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland, with a total area around 46 km2 and a population of 1350 (as per 2022 census). The islands are the decarbonising zone for county Galway and were chosen late last year to be one of the EU 30 for 2030 renewable islands. The Aran Islands were the Mirror Ecosystem for the Outer Hebrides in the RIPEET project.

Learn. Exchange. Connect - Co-creating responsible energy transitions

As the RIPEET project is coming to an end, our consortium is happy to invite invite local and regional authorities’ representatives, co-creation experts and researchers to join our sessions on 18 January 2024.
The event will bring together European Commission representatives, policy-makers, co-creation experts, as well as regional representatives from our pilot territories and mirror ecosystems, to discuss the critical role of stakeholders engagement in energy transition, but also in a wider context of green transition. 

RIPEET Webinar Series: 3rd Webinar on 15 December

Energy Transition on Islands 

Diversity of islands, common learning opportunities

Islands face very specific challenges as regards energy transition, being confronted infrastructural (grid) challenge, often-high rates of energy poverty, and high dependency on energy imports. Transitioning away from fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency could provide solution to those challenges.

Outer Hebrides Local Energy Economy

Outer Hebrides Local Energy Economy is the pilot solution developed and implemented by University of the Highlands and Islands North, West and Hebrides and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides Local Authority) in the Outer Hebrides as a results of the Call for energy solutions launched by the RIPEET project.

The solution aims to identify and overcome barriers to developing a local energy economy; specifically selling locally generated energy directly to local consumers through existing grid infrastructure via a locally owned energy supply company (ESCo) or alternative solutions.

An examination of the optimum energy efficiency solutions and domestic renewable energy mix for local houses will also be carried out. 

Where?

The Outer Hebridesm (UK)


Why?

Explore solutions to reduce household energy costs by better utilising locally generated energy

In September 2022 a call for Innovative energy solutions in the Outer Hebrides was launched as part of the RIPEET project. The call was specifically meant to identify energy solutions that coudl create better energy efficiency strategies and domestic-level renewable generation to reduce household bills and address fuel poverty, a challenge that emerged from the RIPEET report, mapping and analysing the energy transition ecosystem in the Outer Hebrides. 

3 key challenges identified related to this need were:

Fuel Poverty, a widespread and pervasive problem across the Outer Hebrides 

Rapid increase in energy prices

Locally generated energy is sold to the National Grid and transported to the UK mainland

The solution led by a consortium between the University of the Highlands and Islands North, West and Hebrides and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides Local Authority) will engage with OFGEM (UK energy regulator) to investigate an electricity tariff derogation for the region.
Desk-based research will be carried out to identify long term energy storage options, while investigating the practicalities of delivering a local licensed energy supply company.
Engagement with the local grid operator will be key to understanding the impact of removing demand from the electricity network.​​​​​​​

Objectives


Explore optimum mix of domestic renewable energy generation technologies

Explore innovative interventions for energy efficiency improvements particularly in hard-to treat island properties


Expected results

Report summarising key findings from the pilot: progress towards developing a local energy economy; identifying remaining barriers to developing an Outer Hebrides Local Energy Economy and potential steps to addressing them.

Clear plan for next steps to continue development of Local Energy Economy ambition.

Two leaflets summarising the key information from the two research pieces which will be distributed across the region.

Who?

Co-creation Team Members

  • Point and Sandwick Trust – local community energy generator
  • Barra and Vatersay Community Ltd - local community energy generator 
  • GreenspaceLive! – energy engineering company
  • Community Land Outer Hebrides – Membership based organisation representing the community land owners in the region
  • NatureScot – National Environmental and conservation agency
  • Climate Hebrides CIC – organisation which aims to tackle climate change through training, education activities and action.  

Do you want to learn more about it?

Get in touch!

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks – Local electricity grid operator. 
Ripple Energy – Local Energy Supply Solution Provider
Urban Chain – Local Energy Supply Solution Provider
Octopus Fan Club – Local Energy Supply Solution Provider
Energy Local – Local Energy Supply Solution Provider
Shetland Island Council – Scottish Island Local Authority – Plans to partner in tariff advocacy 
Orkney Island Council - Scottish Island Local Authority – Plans to partner in tariff advocacy
Power for People – Local Energy Supply Advocacy Group 
Alastair Allan MSP – Local Political Representative

EnLuces - Promotion of Energy Communities in Extremadura

EnLuces is a pilot solution developed in Extremadura (Spain) as a result of the Call launched by the RIPEET project.

EnVerde Extremadura, the organisation implementing the solution, will develop new spaces, tools and resources with which citizens can play a leading role in the definition of Extremadura’s energy transition, favoring the development of new, fairer and more sustainable solutions, paying special attention to the Energy Communities Models.

Where?

Extremadura Region


Why?

“empower citizens, well inform and educate them, with the capacity to take energy decisions, manage energy solutions and be active in the energy system, reaching in 2040 the target of 60% of citizens that produce their own energy”

As a result of the co-creation work carried out in the framework of Extremadura’s Energy Transition Lab, implemented through the RIPEET project, a joint vision for Extremadura was reached between the actors of the quintuple helix involved: to have by 2040 an energy system that is independent and 100% renewable; a system in which energy communities and self-consumption are a consolidated reality; that allows the region to develop in a sustainable way, reaching a balance between the energy and the environment, with responsible citizens that are actively involved in the transition process and with an energy sector in the region that leads scientific and technological advances in storage and new sustainable technologies.

In order to achieve this vision for the future of the region, 2 main challenges were prioritised:

empower citizens, well inform and educate them with the capacity to take energy decisions, manage energy solutions and be active in the energy system 

have energy communities fully developed in all the municipalities in Extremadura by 2040, reaching one per municipality in 2030.

As a result, a call was launched in September 2022 with the aim of increasing general knowledge on energy issues, fostering collaboration between key actors and promoting the development of new energy solutions for the benefit of society.

Objectives


Create a network of energy community promoters, which will serve as disseminators and referents in their immediate environment

Create a virtual space for dissemination, training and consulting, that allows the interaction of people, the participation of all social agents and communication between institutions, companies and other regional stakeholders.

​​​​​​​


Expected results

Virtual space is fully operative

All the regional “comarcas” (administrative subdivision) and/or “mancomunidades” (group of Municipalities) are represented in the network of energy community promoters.

100 % of the promoters successfully complete the training activities.

Who?

During the co-creation process, different stakeholders have actively participated and contributed with their vision to build together an innovative solution that meets the needs of the region. Among others, some of the stakeholders involved are:

  • Regional SMEs
  • Group of Municipalities
  • Rural Development Centres
  • Local Action Groups
  • Civil Society
  • Intermediate bodies


Do you want to learn more about it?

Get in touch!

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