by Karen Arbuckle | Nov 10, 2021 | News, Top Stories
Edenderry Village Energy, NI’s newest community energy initiative exploring the potential for a community owned low-carbon heating system NICE was only too happy to offer support to residents from Edenderry Village wishing to develop a new community owned district heating scheme. Edenderry is located on the outskirts of Belfast. It is an old linen mill village beside River Lagan, approximately 200 homes, currently heated by a mix of oil and gas. The village locality and compact size present an ideal position for the community of Edenderry to utilise natural and sustainable resources available right at its doorstep. OSNI Spatial Orthophotography Map – Edenderry Village OSNI Spatial Fusion Basemap – Edenderry Village Residents see an opportunity for the village to make a just transition from fossil fuel heating to a low-carbon heating system and want to develop a district heating energy scheme that is owned, run by, and for, the community. One that will alleviate risk of fuel poverty, provide a stable and dependable source of heat that is not subject to increasing fuel prices and to eliminate need for harmful fossil fuel boilers thereby improving local air quality for example. Edenderry wanted to establish a community owned organisation to develop, build and manage a decarbonised district heating scheme for the whole village. A community renewable energy system that provides hot water and heating from a central geothermal heat pump system which produces three to four times more heat energy than the electricity input, to as many homes as possible, and which offers affordability for residents and also retains revenues within the community to reinvest in other village renewable energy...
by Karen Arbuckle | Nov 5, 2020 | News
Co-Operative Alternatives are hosting a series of webinars ‘The Transformational Power of Co-Operatives’. The second in the series focused on energy. The presentations to date and information on the further webinars left in the series can be found at this link...
by Karen Arbuckle | Nov 5, 2020 | News
As part of the process in developing a new NI Energy Strategy the Department for the Economy contracted Cornwall Insight, in partnership with Ionic Consulting, to conduct research on renewable electricity and possible future policy in Northern Ireland. The outcome of this research was originally published in July 2020 but some changes have since been made with regard to the Community Energy section. To view or download a revised version of the report click this link. Note: Section 8 specifically relates to Community Energy. If you wish to follow the progress being made towards a NI Energy Strategy you can you can email energystrategy@economy-ni.gov.uk or go to the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy 2050...
by Karen Arbuckle | Nov 5, 2020 | News
NICE held its 2020 AGM this via a Zoom webinar starting at 6:30 pm on Wednesday 28th October. Whilst we would have much preferred to meet members in person the webinar allowed an opportunity for NICE members much further afield to join and participate which was very welcome. Thanks to all members who were unable to join the meeting but who took time to vote online. Links to the presentation and reports are listed below:- Chair’s Statement AGM20 Presentation Draft Year End Accounts...
by Karen Arbuckle | Sep 23, 2019 | News, Top Stories
Re: NICE Annual General Meeting 9th October 2019 You are cordially invited to NICE Annual General Meeting 2019. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, the 9th October 2019 in the Agape Centre, 238 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6GF, commencing 6.30 pm. This year we will be holding a joint AGM together with Drumlin Wind Energy Co-Operative. Some members of NICE are also shareholders in Drumlin and it is also a great networking opportunity to meet up with like minded people. We are delighted to have engaged two guest speakers for the evening from Northern Ireland Environmental Link (NIEL) and N.I. Forest Schools. We look forward to receiving an update from Craig McGuicken, CEO NIEL on our local evironmental agenda and Forest Schools will give a short presentation on the initiative they have been running in collaboration with Drumlin. AGM registrations and refreshments commence @ 6.30 pm the meeting will start at 7:00 pm SHARP beginning with the information session followed by Drumlin and then NICE business sessions. We would be grateful if you could please advise of your attendance in order to facilitate catering & other arrangements by sending us an email to shares@nicommunityenergy.org. At the AGM NICE membership is invited to discuss its achievements, the end of year accounts, the election of the Board and vote for the proposed resolutions. The draft Financial Statements to the 31st March 2019, the proposed resolutions and the annual report will be available in due course. Board election – According to NICE rules (Rule 64), each year one third of the elected Directors is required to retire and, if they decide...
by Karen Arbuckle | Oct 19, 2018 | News
PERFORMANCE ABOVE MODELLED FORECAST; ENERGY SAVINGS & CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION FOR ALL MEMBER ORGANISATIONS; 4% INTEREST RETURN FOR MEMBERS; AND NICE1&2 MEMBER SHARE BUY BACK SCHEMES 2018 . NICE held their 2018 AGM on 11th October in the McSweeny Building, Ashton, Belfast. Thanks to all members who were able to attend and to those that availed of the online voting facility. The evening kicked off with an intro by NICE member organisation and AGM host, Ashton’s Facilities Manager, Richard Healey. Richard explained the McSweeny building had opened for business in May 2018 after a significant build and refurbish programme. Richard outlined Ashton’s other facilities and various services. He welcomed interest from any organisation or community group wishing to avail of their facilities or services and provided contact information to do so. The main business of the AGM then proceeded. Outsourcing payroll administration services allows employers to concentrate on their core business and frees up the business owner, human resources or accounting personnel to work more on strategic tasks that could ultimately affect your bottom line. Chair, Andy Frew gave a succinct & positive report on the past year at NICE and he made reference to the political instability and subsequent absence of future energy policy or strategy. He highlighted developments in technologies, storage, software, apps etc are ever growing at a rapid pace and NICE was not standing still as the Board continued to explore renewable energy technologies and efficiencies advances that may enhance benefits for members or might open a new initiative/project. NICE1 and NICE2, Project Managers, respectively, Cye Bannon and Karen Arbuckle, presented summarised generation information for all NICE...
