Orsted and EnergyCloud initiative to give free hot water for 100 homes near wind farm

The surplus renewable energy deal in Kerry builds on similar collaborations in Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Offaly

Alan Wyley, CEO, EnergyCloud; Nadine O’Sullivan, Operations Community Liaison, Orsted; Councillor Norma Moriarty, Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare Municipal District, and Councillor Martin Grady, Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, at Orsted windfarm in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM Photo

Up to 100 homes will get free hot water from surplus renewable energy from wind farms in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry.

Renewable energy company Orsted is partnering with charity EnergyCloud and Kerry Co Council on the initiative, which will provide free hot water to the homes that are geographically nearest to Orsted’s wind farms, dependent on tenant sign-up.

EnergyCloud will heat the home’s water tank through smart immersion technology, with homes under Kerry County Council’s stock eligible for the scheme. Orsted will provide approximately €500 per home to the initiative.

“By using surplus renewable energy, we’re helping households in need. It’s proof that renewable energy can do more than just power homes, it supports communities,” said Orsted vice president for onshore in Ireland and the UK, TJ Hunter.

Alan Wyley, CEO of EnergyCloud Ireland said: “This is a simple but effective way to provide an essential service like hot water, while making better use of Ireland’s renewable resources. We hope this initiative will drive others to do similar projects”.

This will be EnergyCloud’s first project in county Kerry and builds on its existing collaborations with local authorities and approved housing bodies in counties including Offaly, Cork, Galway, and Limerick.

Orsted has three operational wind farms in the Kilgarvan area – Kilgarvan, Sillahertane, and Inchincoosh – which have a combined generating capacity of 86 MW of green electricity across 38 turbines, enough to power more than 53,000 homes annually.

Orsted has also started the Kilgarvan Repower project, which will replace 28 turbines at existing wind farms, totalling 77.5 MW, with up to 11 more modern machines.

Orsted’s Irish headquarters are in Cork, and operates 21 onshore wind farms across the island of Ireland, with a multi-technology pipeline of further onshore wind farms, solar farms and energy storage facilities at various stages of development.