Surplus renewable energy used to heat immersion tanks of older people
Easy-to-use smart 'Climote' devices have been fitted to the immersion tanks in the private or local authority homes of 40 older people, redirecting surplus renewable energy from windfarms to power immersion heaters overnight. File Picture.
A project inspired by the late Cork business leader John Mullins is using surplus renewable energy to provide free hot water to older people in Cork city.
The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative won the environment category section of the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.
It was a collaboration between Cork City Council, Cork City Age Friendly, and the EnergyCloud Ireland charity.
But the project was the brainchild of the late John Mullins, the former chief executive of Bord Gáis, businessman, and renewable energy entrepreneur.
An Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork for over a decade, Mr Mullins was also chairman of EnergyCloud Ireland — a charity supported by utility providers and wind energy companies set up to help divert renewable energy to homes at risk of fuel poverty — until his sudden death in April 2025.
Mr Mullins identified that Cork City Council's Age Friendly network would be an excellent platform for promoting the work of EnergyCloud Ireland.
The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative was launched as a pilot project earlier this year in privately-owned homes and aimed at people aged over 65 in Cork city.
It was open on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis through Cork’s Age Friendly Forum, and involved easy-to-use smart 'Climote' devices being fitted to the immersion tanks in the private or local authority homes of 40 older people, redirecting surplus renewable energy from windfarms to power immersion heaters overnight.
Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy, the mayor of Cork City, said: “It fostered a sense of empowerment amongst older people as they learned to manage the technology and saw the real benefits of the pilot project.
“This award is also a fitting legacy to the late John Mullins, whose vision, energy, and unwavering commitment to making Cork a more sustainable and inclusive city continue to inspire us.
“John’s belief that innovation should serve people — particularly our older citizens — lies at the heart of this initiative.
“His leadership and partnership with Cork City Council helped turn a simple yet powerful idea into a project that is now making a real difference in people’s lives. This national recognition reflects their outstanding work and the positive impact they continue to have every day."
Cork City Council CEO Valerie O’Sullivan said: “An impactful environmental pilot targeted at our growing older population, this pilot allowed a number of older people in Cork to engage with new technologies to make savings on their energy costs.
“It is a great example of cross-directorate work in action, with staff across the community, housing, and environment directorates in Cork City Council working in tandem with EnergyCloud Ireland to deliver on this great initiative which has real and lasting benefits for the older people of the city who engaged with it.”
EnergyCloud CEO Alan Wyley said: “It is an enormous honour to win the National Age Friendly Environment Award for this project.
“This project was the brainchild of our late chair John Mullins, allowing EnergyCloud to use surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise be wasted, to deliver free tanks of hot water to over 65s in privately-owned and social homes in Cork, delivering significant social and environmental impact.”
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