RenewableNI Director Steven Agnew has expressed his support following the launch of EnergyCloud NI’s first project in Northern Ireland where renewable energy will be used to help tackle fuel poverty.
The initiative, announced as part of a collaboration with Northern Ireland Housing Executive, will enable up to 20 families in Omagh to receive free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy.
Housing Executive homes in Omagh, due to benefit, have already been equipped with an EnergyCloud enabled smart device. The device allows the use of surplus renewable energy, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat immersion tanks.
In 2024 alone, 915 GWh of zero carbon energy from wind was dispatched down across Northern Ireland. Analysis from EnergyCloud NI indicates this energy could have heated approximately 305 million tanks of hot water. Redeployment of this energy will bring tangible savings for families at risk of fuel poverty.
This collaborative project is supported by SONI, NIE Networks, Budget Energy, Click Energy, and SSE Airtricity.
Jamie Delargy, Chair of EnergyCloud NI, said:
“At EnergyCloud, we believe access to affordable, sustainable energy is not just a must for the environment, but a fundamental social need.
“Too many families across Northern Ireland struggle to afford the energy they require, while vast amounts of renewable electricity are wasted. The solution is clear: by directing surplus energy to those in need, we can make a real and lasting impact.”
Steven Agnew, Director of RenewableNI, said;
“We are proud to support the EnergyCloud initiative, an innovative project that is utilising the benefits of renewables for those who need it most. The renewables industry is delivering cheaper electricity each day to every home in Northern Ireland. EnergyCloud allows us to go further and provide free electricity to heat hot water tanks to Housing Executive homes through the night.
“From conception to connection, it can take up to a decade to develop a wind or solar farm. Having gone through such a huge undertaking, renewable generators want to see every watt of electricity they can produce being used. By providing demand when generators would otherwise be turned off, the EnergyCloud scheme allows us to maximise the use of renewables and help tackle fuel poverty.”
Robert Clements, Head of Sustainable Development for the Housing Executive, added:
“Not only will this project generate savings in fuel bills for our tenants, it will also support our climate change and sustainability goals.”
