SEC NI News

A significant part of the SEC project is appointing an energy consultant for each SEC. A series of intensive meetings was held between Lisnaskea community representatives and the Project SEC Team between May and June 2025.  A tender document was developed, which met the goals of the community and the deliverables agreed with the National Lottery Community Fund. The tender was published on 18th June 2025. Three responses were received and the evaluation panel appointed Raleigh and Associates Ltd on 22nd July. 

Raleigh and Associates Ltd will undertake the following activities: 

• 50 Home Energy Assessments with Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s).
  • Anyone in the Lisnaskea area interested in getting a Home Energy Assessment please contact the SEC Team via email -  [email protected]  
• Non-residential facilities to be audited:
  • Share Discovery Village
  • Carrosyl Community Centre
  • Donagh Millennium Hall
  • St Mary’s Parish Hall, Maguiresbridge
  • Newtownbutler Parish Hall
  • St Patricks Donagh GFC
  • Archdale Hall
  • Emmanuel Centre
  • Lisnaskea Emmetts GFC
• Assessment of plans of potential new builds in the local area with costed measures:
  • Oak Healthy Living Centre
  • Galloon Parish Newtownbutler Church Hall
• Community Engagements:
  • 4 Community information events
  • Summary report (4-page A4 booklet with 500 printed copies)
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Graphic roadmap (1 pager with 500 printed copies
  • Project video – highlighting local SEC area including drone shots
• Register of Opportunities – this will provide a foundation block to establish a project strategy and roadmap for the   SEC to progress.  As part of the Register of Opportunities, any ideas you think would benefit the community are welcome.  To pass these on please contact the SEC Team via email -  [email protected].

All results from the above will come in the form of an EMP report (Energy Master Plan). 

The Northern Ireland site visits took place on Wednesday, 17th September, with 17 attendees. The day included visits to Whitehead Solar Project (NICE), Parkgate Wind Project (Drumlin), Upperland Hydro Project, and An Carn Community Association. 

he visits showcased various renewable energy technologies and highlighted both opportunities and challenges in community energy development, including heritage building constraints, turbine repowering benefits, and the importance of stakeholder engagement.

The SEC team has been busy with community engagement sessions throughout October. John, Jason and Eleazar delivered Energy Savings Tips and Tricks presentations to three groups: the Fold users at Radius Housing Mount Vernon (11 attendees), the Pantry users at Ashton Centre (9 attendees), and pensioner groups at Ashton Centre (25 and 22 attendees across two sessions). 

The presentations generated high engagement with participants sharing their energy struggles and expressing gratitude for practical advice. The team also demonstrated the Power-to-Switch comparison tool and highlighted available grants. 

Initial meetings have taken place between Action Renewables and The Dolmens team. An MOU between Dolmens and Action Renewables has been signed.  Community kick off meetings with Action Renewables took place Tuesday 28th October. 

A successful Showcase Event was held on 22nd October at Ballymacash Sports Academy, Lisburn. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA attended and delivered a keynote address emphasising that fuel poverty reduction and net zero are "two sides of the same coin". 

The event featured testimonials from Lisnaskea SEC (Fiona Leonard), Ballymacash SEC (Laura Turner), Dolmens SEC (Dr Sally Montgomery), and North Belfast SEC (Ciara Rea). Dr John Bartlett (ATU Sligo) provided research context, Claire Lombard (SEAI) outlined funding opportunities, Albert Hamilton (CARD) presented interim evaluation findings, and Mark Creaney (National Lottery) spoke on behalf of funders. The event concluded with Q&A with the project consultants and a networking lunch.

Showcase Event demonstrates that local communities can reduce fuel poverty and take climate action | Advice NI

The SEC NI team and steering group conducted a successful study visit to ATU Sligo on June 2-3, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders for project updates and collaborative learning. Over 14 steering group members attended in-person, with additional online participation from NIE and NIHE representatives. ATU Sligo hosted comprehensive facility tours and presentations covering multiple relevant initiatives.

These included the Community Climate Action Fund, Local Energy Agencies for Peripheral Regions (LAEP), Green Accelerator Skills Programme (GRASP), and Retrofit Ready Tool Kits. The highlight was a visit to the Retrofitting Centre of Excellence, where participants experienced hands-on demonstrations of practical retrofitting measures and learned about Net Zero targets for 2030 and 2050. The study visit facilitated learning, collaboration and networking.

The next study visit organized by Co-operative Alternatives will be through Northern Ireland on Wed 17th September covering four locations: Upperlands Community Development (hydro project), Grass Roots Renewable CIC (wind project), Northern Ireland Community Energy - Whitehead (solar project), and Drumlin Wind Energy Co-op - Parkgate (wind project).

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) held its National Gathering in Portlaoise to celebrate a decade of the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme. Eleazar Chidiadi from Advice NI represented the SEC NI project at the event, which brought together community leaders and policymakers to share achievements and challenges in Ireland's energy transition. Ten SECs presented diverse approaches, from the Aran Islands' pioneering Solar Meitheal community installations to Balbriggan's whole-of-town strategy that achieved €3,000 in annual savings and 3.2 kg CO₂ reductions. 

Key challenges emerged around grid connection costs, funding timelines, and the average four-year gap between SEC establishment and Energy Master Plan launch. The event emphasised critical success factors, including strong community engagement, technical expertise, SEAI mentorship, and a "Plan, Do, Learn, Repeat" approach, demonstrating how community-led initiatives can drive Ireland's low-carbon future.

Action Renewables hosted a community energy stakeholder event on June 25, 2025, bringing together experts and community representatives to discuss sustainable energy initiatives in Northern Ireland. 

The event featured presentations from multiple organizations, with Action Renewables showcasing their diverse services including microgeneration, large-scale renewable projects, and charitable work that raises £4 million annually for cancer support. Key speakers addressed community energy empowerment challenges, including funding gaps and skills shortages, while highlighting solutions like the National Lottery-funded Energy Learning Network (ELN) that provides mentorship and resources for community energy projects. The event also featured success stories from Cooperative Alternatives, which has established energy cooperatives using a member-owned model, and The Dolmens Group, a community organization that exemplifies how united communities can overcome development challenges. 

Throughout the presentations, speakers emphasized the importance of collective action, community ownership of energy resources, and the launch of Community Energy NI as a coalition working toward sustainable energy futures in the region.

Brink Belfast hosted an energy event on June 19, 2025, focusing on transforming Northern Ireland's electricity infrastructure amid the region's challenge of having Europe's highest wholesale electricity prices. The event which had John, Eleazar and Jason from the SEC NI team in attendance, featured two key sessions: the first addressed grid transformation with SONI's Gerard Carlin advocating for continued investment in green electricity systems and long-duration energy storage, NIE Networks' Karen O'Doherty outlining a £2 billion grid upgrade program while emphasizing affordability through smart meters, and EnergyCloud NI's Jamie Delargy discussing efforts to reduce consumer energy costs within budget constraints. 

The second session explored community renewable energy deployment, with Queen's University's Marty Doherty promoting community ownership for shared wealth, Cooperative Alternatives' Tiziana O'Hara emphasizing capacity building and coalition-building among community energy players, and Action Renewables' David Maze identifying information barriers facing communities. The event highlighted that Northern Ireland's energy transformation requires coordinated efforts across infrastructure investment, community engagement, and policy development to achieve both environmental and economic sustainability.

A successful community meeting was held at the Oak Healthy Living Facility in Lisnaskea on June 3. The meeting was attended by six community representatives & partners. The goal was to advance the tender application as a group/community. It was highlighted that community buildings would be a large part of the tender.  The turnout was positive, and it was agreed that Fiona from Fermanagh RCN will follow up to ensure that projected groups were still interested in benefitting from the community building assessments.  The SEC team gave reassurance of their support and highlighted the importance of advancing the process.

Following a series of community meetings hosted by Oak Healthy Living Centre, Advice NI has published a tender request to appoint an energy consultant. The consultant will be assessing 50 homes, 7 community buildings, creating a community energy baseline and identifying community projects that can help in their energy saving goals.

On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Utility Regulator and the Energy Institute co-hosted an event titled "The Future of Energy in Northern Ireland 2030 and Beyond." 

The event began with opening remarks from Sam McCloskey, Chair of the Energy Institute Committee, and Jon Carlton, Utility Regulator Board Member, followed by a keynote address from Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Economy. The agenda featured sessions on shaping Northern Ireland's energy future, with contributions from NI Water, NIE Networks, Gas Networks Ireland, and Translink. Notably, Translink discussed the electrification of transport and the use of green hydrogen to decarbonise the sector, while NI Water highlighted using oxygen to enhance wastewater treatment performance. A Q&A session led by Brian Mulhern, Interim Director of Networks and Energy Futures at the Utility Regulator, followed these discussions. After a coffee break, the event continued with a session on enabling future energy solutions, focusing on shaping the electricity transmission network and energy system synergies, followed by another Q&A with Sam McCloskey. 

The event concluded with closing remarks from John French and a networking lunch.

The Energy Team SEC at Dunleer hosted our advisory and steering group members at the Northeast Climate Centre on the 28 May, showcasing their impactful work in community energy through initiatives like Inform & Inspire and Home Retrofits. They demonstrated support for SEC establishment and grant applications, emphasizing the role of statutory agencies. 

A site visit to Naomh Mairtain Gaelic football club in Monasterboice highlighted energy upgrades in sports facilities.

The SEC team has been hard at work, advancing our initiatives across multiple fronts. Drumlin Wind Energy have been busy with the school engagement program (BREESI) which is off to a strong start, with visits completed at 6 schools so far. Over 341 children have participated so far, fostering enthusiasm and awareness about renewable energy generation. 

The children spent the morning session in groups planning a design for a wind turbine and learning how to use the provided tools and equipment. They spent the afternoon working together to build their models

Dolmens hosted a public engagement evening at the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, on 11th March, highlighting the impact of Storm Eowyn. Community members along with the SEC team shared survival stories, tips, tricks and recipes for resilience. The group distributed the Household Emergency Life Saving Plan from the local councils, though dated to 2014, it remains a valuable resource for storm preparedness. 

Consultant Procurement Progress

The SEC team, along with Paul and Mel from ATU, met the Dolmens team on 21st February. Dolmens also held several independent meetings to develop procurement forms, providing a solid initial draft.

The SEC team met at Lisnaskea Enterprises on 10th March, joined by Maria, several directors, and representatives from Fermanagh Community Trust & Oak Healthy Living to refine consultant procurement forms. 

A follow-up meeting with Oak Healthy Living on 19th March introduced new members to the project and explored ways we can support their community engagement. Oak has a new building proposal, and we’re evaluating how we can contribute, potentially with a solar study.

Watch their walkthrough video.

All through March 2025, the SEC team in collaboration with Paul McNama from ATU has been working tirelessly with Billy Hutchinson, Ciara Rea and other representatives from the Inner North Belfast SEC on their consultant procurement for their energy master plan. This connotes a giant stride towards addressing the issue of fuel poverty in the region and energy efficiency awareness for residents. Special thanks to the host reps for the personalised tour of all the North Belfast project area given to the SEC team.

This Ashton Centre building used for day care has some internal damp issues. It is an old building that has been extended multiple times at the rear. On the day we visited it was cold outside, very warm inside and all the windows were left open! It’s one of the properties that is set to benefit from the project as it has been included on the list of non-domestic properties for the consultant to assess. Ashton Centre are using at least 5 buildings in the community which we will look at as well as a few in Mount Vernon.

From knitters to youth, Inner North Belfast multi-generational interest in sustainable energy and climate action is inspiring, and we’re eager to keep the momentum going!

We attended the Geoenergy NI launch event at the Ulster Museum on 20th February, featuring the short film ‘Unearthing the Heat Beneath Our Feet’, hosted by Cool FM’s Paulo Ross. 

Geothermal energy could be a game-changer for our communities! Geoenergy NI. You can watch the video on Vimeo.

We’re also pleased to announce our nomination to represent SEC on the Advisory Board of the EU PEACE PLUS GEMINI Project.

The Ballymacash community has got the ball rolling to promote sustainable energy communities. Worthy to note that their energy plan which includes 50 kW solar PV system, battery storage and 4 EV charging spaces in the car park for community use which is in the planning phase.

John Begley and Eleazar Chidiadi met with the Ballymacash Regeneration Forum Tuesday 12th November 24 to discuss the goals of the Sustainable Energy Communities NI project and share actionable energy-saving strategies. The participants were eager to get involved and committed to spreading the word throughout the community.

The Dolmens community is advancing steadily on its sustainable energy journey! Whilst actively working on procuring a consultant for their energy master plan, here are some highlights of engagements in the recent months.

November 2024 witnessed the launch of the initiative with a vibrant event featuring presentations by John Begley, Jason Henry, Eleazar Chidiadi and Professor David Rooney from Queen’s University Belfast. With 30 attendees, the event was a success, filled with group discussions, insightful feedback, and lively questions about the Sustainable Energy Communities NI project.

In December 2024, Michael Donnelly facilitated a strategic two-hour meeting focused on developing community engagement approaches for the project, with John from the SEC Team and several familiar participants in attendance. The collaborative session, accompanied by refreshments including tea, coffee, mince pies, and mulled wine, involved dividing attendees into three working groups to explore community engagement strategies. Participants actively contributed their insights, which were documented on wall-mounted notes and fell into three primary focus areas

•  basic energy-saving advice with minimal or no cost
• retrofit recommendations
• guidance on larger-scale community energy generation projects

In January 2025, a strategic meeting took place at Michael's residence, featuring Jason from the SEC Team to strategize upcoming project initiatives. The discussion centred on exploring a potential large-scale renewable energy project, with the group demonstrating comprehensive interest across multiple sustainable energy sources including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal technologies. The participants expressed enthusiasm for examining relevant case studies and exploring the possibility of establishing an energy co-operative, with plans to engage further.

Following the recent change from Mount Vernon to Inner North Neighbourhood Renewal, the community is alive with sustainable energy enthusiasm.

Our team, including Eleazar and Jason, met with the Knitter Natters ladies on December 2, 2024 in Mount Vernon Community Centre to introduce the Sustainable Energy Communities NI project. 

The group responded warmly, exchanging valuable energy conservation tips and generating fresh ideas.

Also in December 2024, Jason, John, Eleazar, and Billy attended a meeting at the Ashton Centre in North Belfast with the staff members. We explored energy production possibilities in the North Foreshore area and proposed integrating our project into the centre’s poverty action plan for the new year. We also addressed policy concerns, noting that monthly energy bills paid via cards are 40% more expensive, disproportionately impacting those in need.

Furthermore, Jason and Eleazar led a session with the EA Youth Group, engaging ten 12-14-year-olds in the Climate Fresk card game. The kids were captivated, staying fully involved and taking project booklets home to share with their parents. A special thanks to youth leaders Sam and Christine for their support—and for the pizza!