Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy
Get the recognition you deserve, showcase your unique approach to sustaining a low carbon future.
About the Award
This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated a high level of innovation in the deployment and/or operation of a functioning renewable energy project. Projects may be in renewable heat, electricity or transport, and may include projects for self-supply to a discrete facility.
This category is also open to innovative deployment of renewable energy in houses.
Who should apply?
Applications are welcome from Renewable energy project owners, Facility / building owners with innovative renewable energy deployments including houses. Technology developers and suppliers with suitably innovative projects
Previous project finalists under this category include:
Veolia
Veolia is an environmental services company. They provide a comprehensive range of energy, waste and water solutions. They are dedicated to carbon reduction, protecting the environment and building a circular economy. Their ground-breaking approach combines innovative technologies to deliver Advanced Anaerobic Digestion. In this project, Veolia increased the capacity of the Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant and upgraded the adjacent Sludge Treatment Facility. This project was completed for Kildare County Council and Irish Water. The project reduces CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 tonnes per annum. It also delivers energy savings to the equivalent of powering 2,700 households. The innovative approach and new technologies are easily adaptable to similar sites. The system saved €11 million overall on capital and operational expenditure. This project shows what is possible to reduce our carbon footprint and help make Ireland more sustainable.
Lidl Ireland
Lidl Ireland is a nationwide grocery retailer with 216 stores and 4 regional distribution centres. Lidl has a very robust approach to renewable energy and has installed many solar photo voltaic systems and heat pumps in their buildings and stores. This is strongly driven by Lidl's aggressive 2030 carbon reduction targets. These targets comprise a 46% carbon emission reduction for scope 1 that occurs from sources such as combustion in boilers and vehicles, and scope 2 is associated with purchasing electricity. An A1 BER rating is targeted for all new stores aided by thermal modelling software. Lidl aims to have 62 stores with solar PV installed by the end of 2022. They have also installed solar PV in their Mullingar and Newbridge warehouses. This will make them the largest rooftop solar PV owner in Ireland. Lidl is certified to the International Standard ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems and is audited by independent auditing companies to verify compliance.
Weener
Weener Plastics is a global supplier of innovative plastic packaging solutions. They are making every possible effort to ensure they reduce their carbon footprint. They are committed to helping Ireland reach its 2030 target. Weener Plastics energy team implemented a renewable energy project. They are using groundwater as a renewable source of the heat sink. Energy efficiency and carbon reduction were the main drivers of this project. Overall the project delivered 583MWh of energy savings equivalent to €32,000. It has achieved 169 tonnes of CO2 reduction in the last 12 months. The process is easily replicable, and its sister companies are already planning the same project.
Falls Hotel & Spa
The Falls Hotel & Spa is a family run hotel at the gateway to the Burren UNESCO Geopark in County Clare. Installing a hydro-electric turbine on the river adjacent to the hotel has provided the Falls hotel with up to 70% of their annual electricity requirements since 2018. In March 2021 the hotel was declared a carbon neutral property by Green Hospitality and awarded their GreenMark recognition.
Lidl Ireland
Lidl Regional Distribution Centre is home to one of Ireland’s largest rooftop PV arrays. The system incorporates over 4,000 panels spread across an area of 10,000m2 and provides 25% of the buildings annual electrical requirements. In addition, a heat recovery system from the refrigeration system provides underfloor heating, natural light is maximised and a rainwater harvesting system accumulates 1million litres of water annually.
We are absolutely honoured to win the award for Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy from the SEAI. We would like to thank our green team within the hotel. Without the green team, this wouldn't have been able to happen. The McCarthy Family for their vision in the hydro turbine project and our locals within the area, who have all been very supportive of the project.
Application guidelines
- Please submit your application online by 5pm Friday 7th July.
- You are eligible to apply under more than one category. Simply follow the online guidelines and copy and paste your application to a new category and amend your answers as appropriate.
- Please ensure all mandatory fields are completed before you hit submit.
- Please complete the 'Data' section to the best of your ability.
- Once you submit, you can still edit your application up to the deadline date.
- Please keep attachments to 5MB or less.
- Shortlisted applications will be announced in August.