Two Kilkenny initiatives to benefit from Community Benefit Funding
EDF Renewables Ireland makes first awards from c. €750,000 Community Benefit Funds to local initiatives in Kilkenny and Wexford
EDF Renewables Ireland has announced that Carrigeen National School and Mooncoin Foróige are among the first recipients of Community Benefit Funding from its three solar farms in Kilkenny and Wexford.
A number of schools, youth organisations and community groups will all benefit from this year’s funding, worth a combined total of almost €50,000, to support projects and develop new facilities.
With a combined capacity of 17MW, Coolroe, Blusheens and Curraghmartin Solar Farms are among Ireland’s first operational solar farms and were energised last year.
Community Benefit Funds, independently administered by SECAD Partnership CLG, have been established for each of the three solar farms, and will provide funding for the next 15 years, generating c. €750,000 over the lifetime of the funds.
Local community groups were invited to apply for the first round of funding in March of this year, and a panel of local community representatives then reviewed the applications to decide how this year’s funds would be allocated.
In Kilkenny, Carrigeen National School and Mooncoin Foróige will use funding from nearby Curraghmartin Solar Farm to create an inclusive and long-term youth project for the wider community.
This will include providing the youth club equipment such as a pool table, table tennis table and tabletop football, as well as the addition of a battery energy storage system to complement their existing solar panels.
Welcoming the announcement, Damian Byrne, Development Manager at EDF Renewables Ireland, said 'so many local schools, youth groups and community organisations will benefit from this funding'.
"EDF Renewables is committed to being a good neighbour to local communities and ensuring that those communities benefit from renewable energy projects in their area," he added.
"All of the applications for the Community Benefit Funding were aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and contained some terrific ideas about how this funding can make a real difference to local communities in Kilkenny and Wexford.
"We can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition over the coming months."
Principal of Carrigeen National School Sinead Murphy said 'Carrigeen NS aims to utilise the funding award to enhance educational resources and promote cultural enrichment through collaborative initiatives with the Foróige Youth Club'.
"This funding will significantly impact our pupils and the broader community by providing access to quality arts, music, and drama programs, as well as renewable energy solutions," she said.
"We believe these efforts will foster a more inclusive and engaged community, while also instilling a sense of environmental stewardship and sustainability among our youth."
Aidan Gleeson, Club Development Officer at Mooncoin Foróige the group 'hope to create a safe place where young people can come and achieve their full potential in a club that they take pride in'.
"One of the most challenging aspects of starting up a club in any area is the lack of financial wherewithal to help the club thrive and survive," he said. "The funding will take that pressure from the club."