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16 Apr 2026
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16 Apr 2026
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UPDATE: Renewable energy and water pilot scheme progressed by Kildare County Council. FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY
A renewable energy pilot scheme which aims to assist certain residents living in County Kildare by providing hot water has been progressed.
Sinn Féin councillor Noel Connolly has welcomed the decision by Kildare County Council (KCC) to progress the scheme, which aims to deliver free hot water to social housing tenants using surplus renewable energy.
KCC is now working with the environmental charity, Energy Cloud Ireland, along with sponsorship from Microsoft, in order to deliver the scheme.
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Speaking on the latest development, Cllr Connolly, who represents the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD), prefaced it by saying that he first proposed the scheme to KCC back in December of 2023.
He also described it as 'an overdue but very positive step in tackling energy poverty', while also 'making smarter use of renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste'.
DETAILS
According to Cllr Connolly, the initiative will provide free hot water to a selected group of social housing tenants by diverting surplus renewable energy into their hot water systems.
No change of electricity supplier is required, and participation is voluntary.
He elaborated by explaining that a total of 122 homes across all five MDs have been identified for the scheme, including:
Cllr Connolly also provided a breakdown of the units per MD:
Speaking further on the scheme, Cllr Connolly said: "It will help families struggling with energy costs, it reduces waste, and it supports our transition to a greener future."
"I welcome KCC's decision to act on this, and I will continue to push for its expansion once the pilot proves successful," he concluded.
Anyone seeking further information on the project can visit https://energycloud.org/ireland/.
Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly. File photograph
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