Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 221 In 1985, the Department of Energy published a document entitled Small-scale Hydroelectric Potential of Ireland12. In this, 32 potential hydro sites were identified in County Kilkenny. Reclaiming Lost Power assessed these 32 sites and identified 20 sites for prioritisation. These sites are shown in Figure 11.6. Figure 11.6: Potential Hydroelectric Schemes 11.8.1 Types of scheme The flow rate in the river is the volume of water passing per second. The gross head is the maximum available vertical fall in the water from the upstream level to the downstream level. Two hydro projects with the same power output could be very different; one using a relatively low volume of high-speed water from a mountain reservoir and the other using a high volume of water in a slow flowing river. As such, hydro schemes are classified as low, medium or high head schemes. 12 Department of Energy, Small-scale Hydroelectric Potential of Ireland, 1985

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 222 11.8.1.1 Low head schemes Low head systems typically have a gross head of less than 10m. Reclaiming Lost Power identified the potential of low head hydro resources existing in disused mill sites, weirs and untapped areas around the county. These low head sites (< 10 m) have the potential to create employment, revenue and further enhance the green economy for County Kilkenny. Low head systems are generally located in lowland areas, abstracting water from rivers through the use of weirs with diversion of a proportion of river flow to a leat (millrace) and from there to a turbine house. Water is returned to the river downstream of the turbine through a tailrace. Low head schemes are very dependent on flow, and may shut down during periods of low rainfall. 11.8.1.2 Medium-high head schemes While there is no explicit definition, medium head systems typically have a gross head of between 10 – 50m, and high head schemes typically have a gross head of >50m. Medium and high head schemes typically, but not always, are larger in terms of installed generation capacity. In any case, there is little scope for development of these types of schemes in County Kilkenny. Only one site, on the River Blackwater is a high head scheme and the Greenville Mill hydroelectric scheme is already in place there. 11.8.2 Development Management Guidance In the assessment of proposals for hydroelectric schemes the Council will have regard to the provisions of the Guidelines on the Planning, Design, Construction and Operation of Small Scale Hydro-Electric Schemes and Fisheries13, or any amending or replacement document. In addition, it is recommended that anyone considering a hydro-electrical project should consult the following documents (or any updates thereto); • Reclaiming Lost Power, Kilkenny’s Potential Hydro power sites • Requirements for the protection of Fisheries Habitat during Construction and Development Works at River Sites14 In addition to the effects on fisheries as covered by the Guidelines, possible impacts from hydro energy developments are outlined in the table below. 13 Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, & the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources Guidelines on the Planning, Design, Construction and Operation of Small Scale Hydro-Electric Schemes and Fisheries, 2007 14 Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Requirements for the protection of Fisheries Habitat during Construction and Development Works at River Sites, 2009

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 223 Table 11.7: Summary of potential impacts from hydro-power scheme Issue Potential impact Visual Impact on character of landscape, scenic views (turbine houses, embankments, structures, access routes and power lines) Ecology Impact on habitats, fish populations and protected species such as otters and bats Hydrology Possibility of pollution, effect on water quality and regime, must show compliance with River Basin Management Plan Noise During construction and operation Archaeology There may be underwater archaeology present Architectural heritage Many weirs and mills are protected structures Taken from Generating your own Energy, Hydropower, Welsh Assembly Government, 2011 Pages 5-7 An Environmental Impact Assessment may be required for some hydroelectric schemes in accordance with Schedule 5 Part 2(h) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. An EIS may also be required for schemes not meeting this threshold, but where the Council considers that the potential environmental impact is such that an EIA is warranted. As can be seen from Figure 9.1, many of the county’s rivers are designated as SACs or SPAs (see Section 9.2 Natural Heritage). As with all developments, for any location within or adjacent to a Natura 2000 site, an assessment under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive will be required (See section 1.3 Appropriate Assessment). As part of any planning application for a hydroelectric scheme, an Environmental Management Plan will be required to address all environmental issues arising during the construction and operation of the scheme. The following types of scheme are likely to be detrimental to the fisheries resource and may be rejected by the planning authority: • New low head schemes that may cause significant obstacles to fish movement. • In catchments / sub-catchments of importance such as a spring salmon fishery. • Placing structures / weirs at the outlet of lakes or creating new impoundments. • The transfer of water from one catchment to another. • River channel sections of high fisheries value where the impacts of the proposed hydro scheme development would be unacceptable from a fisheries perspective, i.e. in an area of important spawning or nursery area • Where there are existing competing uses of the water resource, such as water abstractions, dilution of licensed discharges etc • Where there may be an impact on river continuity, fish migration, or fish mortality. Development Management Requirements • The Council will facilitate the development of appropriate projects that convert hydro power to energy with due regard to the provisions of the Guidelines on the Planning, Design, Construction and Operation of Small Scale Hydro-Electric Schemes and Fisheries

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 224 11.9 Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy refers to heat energy stored in the ground. Heat is supplied to the ground from two sources, namely the hot core of the planet and the sun. It can be classified as either ‘deep’ or ‘shallow’ depending on the depths involved. For deep geothermal energy extraction, developments drill into the earth’s crust to reach ‘hot rocks’, such as granite whose radioactive elements generate heat at great depth. The second source of heat in the ground is from radiation from the sun. Solar thermal radiation is absorbed by the surface of the earth each day. This energy can be regarded as stored energy which stays relatively warm throughout the year. This type of solar energy is extracted from the first few metres of the earth’s crust and can be harvested using heat pumps. Heat pump systems extract the heat stored in the ground (ground source heat pumps), bodies of water (water source heat pumps) or air (air source heat pumps). This heat can then be used to heat the spaces in buildings, heat water or enable a building to be cooled. Through compression, heat pumps can ‘pump up’ heat at low temperature and release it at a higher temperature so that it may be used again. A heat pump looks similar and can perform the same functions as a conventional gas or oil boiler, i.e. space heating and sanitary hot water production. For every unit of electricity used to operate the heat pump, up to four units of heat are generated. Therefore, for every unit of electricity used to pump the heat, 3-4 units of heat are produced. The collector can be “closed loop” where the same fluid (usually water and antifreeze) always flows through the collector pipes or “open loop” where new water (e.g. from a well) flows through the heat pump. Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) operate on the fact that the ground maintains a constant temperature between 11oC and 13oC, several metres below the surface. Ground source heat pumps use a 'closed loop' system of water/anti-freeze to collect the soil heat. In general terms the ground area required for the collector is approximately equal to that of the foot-print of the house or building to be heated15. Air source heat pumps (ASHP) use the surrounding air as a heat source to heat a building. Air source heat pumps can be located in the roof space or on the side of the building. They are similar in appearance to air conditioning boxes. Water source heat pumps (WSHP) extract heat from large bodies of water or rivers. These are generally 'open loop' collectors, i.e. the water is passed through and discarded, unlike the 'closed loop’ systems. 11.9.1 Deep Geothermal In 2004, CSA Group completed a study commissioned by SEAI which aimed at identifying the potential resources of geothermal energy in Ireland. Co. Kilkenny does not have significant potential for deep geothermal, as the study concluded that “the best proven potential for medium and deep geothermal resources in the Republic of Ireland are in the northeast (Navan area) and northwest midlands... and in the west Clare and east midlands areas”16. 15 CSA Group, Geothermal Energy Resource Map of Ireland, Final Report; 2004; Report prepared for Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2004, Page 17 16 CSA Group, Geothermal Energy Resource Map of Ireland, Final Report; 2004; Report prepared for Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2004, Page 82

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 225 One of the outcomes of the project was to create a series of geothermal maps17 for Ireland. Subsurface temperatures increase from south to north in County Kilkenny. Figure 11.7 below shows the geothermal temperatures at 5,000m. Figure 11.7 Geothermal temperatures at 5,000m However, in the short term it is unlikely that deep geothermal will be utilised in Ireland. The first deep geothermal plant in Ireland was granted permission by South Dublin County Council in 2011 for Greenogue Business Park in Newcastle. The Council will promote the use of geothermal energy products in new developments, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the Development Management Requirements. 11.9.2 Air Source Heat Pumps The most common heat pump systems extract heat from external air, typically using an outside unit. These heat pump systems do not require underground piping to source heat and so can be cheaper and easier to install compared to ground source heat pump systems. The most popular heat pumps are air to water heat pumps. The Climate Action Plan envisages 600,000 heat pumps by 2030, 400,00 of which will be installed in existing buildings. The Council will promote the roll out of air source heat pumps in line with government policy in new developments and retrofits, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the Development Management Requirements. 17 SEAI, Geothermal Mapping System

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 226 11.9.3 Water Source Heat Pumps Water source heat pump systems use open water, such as lakes, rivers or streams, as a heat source. Heat is removed from the water through collector pipework and then transferred to the heat pump. The Council will promote the use of water source heat pumps where applicable in new developments and retrofits, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria and the Development Management Requirements. 11.9.4 Development Management Guidance The various possible impacts from the three types of heat pumps, and from deep geothermal are set out in the Table below. Table 11.8: Summary of potential impacts from heat pumps Potential impact Ground source heat pump Air source heat pump Water source heat pump Visual x Ecology X X Hydrology (risk of contaminating wells, aquifers and watercourses) X X Hydrology (abstraction & disturbance) x Traffic & Transport x Noise x x x Geology X Archaeology x Architectural heritage X Building Design (structural impact) x x Taken from Generating your own Energy, Heat Pumps, Welsh Assembly Government, 2011 Pages 7-11 Table 11.9: Summary of potential impacts from Deep Geothermal energy Issue Potential impact Visual Plant and power infrastructure, there may also be structures around any tunnels Ecology Habitat and species disturbance Hydrology Risk of contaminating wells, aquifers and watercourses Traffic & Transport Vehicle movements during operation and also construction & decommissioning Noise Noise creation from drilling Geology Seismic factors associated with drilling near faults, risk factors from gas pockets and other sub-surface substances. Risk of ground subsidence. Archaeology There may be archaeology present. 11.10 Transport The transport sector is the largest fuel consumer in Kilkenny and is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy. The achievement of a reduction in greenhouse emissions to comply with targets set out in the Paris Agreements will require significant measures to be taken in the transport section in particular. It was estimated that in 2020 renewable energy

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 227 accounted for 5.8% of transport energy consumption in Ireland. It is envisaged that this will increase to 13.4% by 2030 and 17.8% by 2040. The White Paper for Energy 2015 is cognisant of the need to support alternatives to fossil fuels for transport and it recommends the following initiatives: - The roll out of electric and gas vehicles through grants and tax relief, and - Development of a national policy framework to support infrastructure for alternative transport fuels. In this regard, a combination of energy efficiency transport initiatives, electric vehicles and renewable transport sources can reduce Kilkenny’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and associated greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. 11.10.1 Electric Vehicles The carbon emissions relating to the powering of electric vehicles is expected to reduce significantly by 2030, through the adoption of electrical generating renewable technologies and more efficient generating plant and Smart Grid technology. The Climate Action Plan contains a target of 1m passenger electric vehicles by 2030. 11.10.1.1 Electric Vehicle Development in Kilkenny ESB networks (ESBn) currently operate the electric vehicle network in Kilkenny and countrywide. Many homes and business already have e- chargers fitted since 2016. The ESBn is responsible for the rollout of EV charging points across the country with 3 types of charge points being installed by ‘ESB ecars’ nationwide, being: - home charge points, - public charge points and - fast charge points The Council have purchased some electric vehicles and support the roll out of the EV charging network. 11.10.1.2 Electric Vehicle Potential in Kilkenny The Council supports the expansion of the EV charging network in conjunction with the ESB and will seek to require the installation of additional public charge points as part of car-parking facilities of private developments through its Development Management Requirements, see Section 12.14. 11.10.2 Biofuels The National Biofuel Obligation Scheme 2010 requires all road transport fuel suppliers to use biofuel in the fuel mix (8.4% since January 2016) with a further target of just over 11.2% being adopted from January 2020. This scheme is recognised as the most promising means of securing national renewable energy targets by 2020. However, under this scheme much of the biofuel is imported.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 228 11.10.2.1 BioFuel Potential in Kilkenny There is a need to support and develop indigenous renewable energy sources that contribute to meeting the transport renewable energy targets. The potential exists for the development of second-generation biofuel production facilities which will produce more advanced biofuels. Such a development would likely be developed by a private company, requiring significant resources to develop such a facility. Bio-ethanol has potential for use as a direct petrol supplement within vehicles. This is particularly the case where the ethanol is produced from residues of dairy products, thereby creating potential spin-off economic opportunity in the dairy sector. 11.11 Energy Storage The National Transmission Operator – EirGrid and the National Electricity Distribution Operator (ESBn) are required to upgrade their infrastructure to cater for the large increase in flexible renewable generation. This requires role out of storage facilities on the gas and electricity network over the coming decade. This will be supported at domestic scale (batteries in our homes) and commercially at large scale. The Council supports new technologies such as battery storage, liquid air storage and synchronous condensers. 11.12 Sustainability & Energy Efficiency in Buildings According to the EU, buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the Union18. Therefore, increasing energy efficiency in buildings has a huge role to play in meeting Ireland’s renewable energy targets. 11.12.1 Kilkenny County Council Energy Efficiency The Local Authority have signed up to Energy Map training and an Energy Management Action Plan delivered by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). An Energy team was established under the Energy Map programme consisting of personnel from across the various sections. Kilkenny City & County Council achieved their 2020 target at the end of 2018 with 33.2% less energy use delivered 2 years ahead of the target. This stems from the great work of the KCC Energy Team coordinated by the 3 Counties Energy Agency and supported by the National Public Sector Energy Programme run by SEAI under the EU directive for Energy Efficiency recast 2018. 18 Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 229 Figure 11.8 Energy Saving in Kilkenny County Council since 2018 11.12.2 Energy Performance of Buildings Arising from the Recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/30/EU, from 1 January 2019, every new public building will have to be designed to nearly zero energy building standards. Also, all other new buildings will have to comply with the new nearly zero energy buildings standards from 1 January 2021. The Council will have regard to the DoEHLG publication Towards Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Ireland Planning for 2020 and Beyond and the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010/31/EU) which promote the increase in nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). The Council promotes the development of low carbon buildings. Energy efficiency and the renewable requirements for new buildings including new residential development are addressed in the Building Regulations Part L. The aim of Part L is to limit the use of fossil fuel energy and related CO2 emissions arising from the operation of the building. 11.12.2.1 Alternative Energy Systems for Large Buildings For large buildings over 1,000m2, S.I. No. 666 of 2006 requires that due consideration has been given to the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of installing alternative energy systems in the proposed building, and that the use of such systems has been taken into account, as far as practicable, in the design of that building. The preferred methodology for assessing the feasibility of such alternative energy systems shall be the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland software tool or other acceptable methodology as defined in (S.I. No. 666 of 2006). This shall also apply to all new planning application for housing schemes of ten or more units.

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    Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 230 11.12.2.2 Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) is the official Irish procedure for calculating and assessing the energy performance of dwellings. Published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the procedure takes account of the energy required, for space heating, ventilation, water heating and lighting, less savings from energy generation technologies. It calculates both the CO2 emission rate and energy consumption per annum. This is a useful tool for designers when considering and comparing options to conserve energy and reduce CO2 emission. The right design decisions in relation to building form, dwelling layout, levels of insulation, amount and orientation of glazing, utilisation of solar energy, heating system and fuel type, use of draught lobbies, construction materials and measures to conserve potable water, can contribute greatly to sustainability. In addition, these will lead to cost savings, in the long term, while raising the level of comfort for the occupants of the dwelling. DEAP is also used to calculate the Building Energy Rating (BER) of a dwelling. The BER is a label containing the energy performance of the dwelling, expressed as primary energy use per unit floor area per year (kWh/m2/per annum) and illustrated as an Energy Rating (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, etc) for the dwelling, it also includes a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Indicator (kgCO2/m2/yr) associated with this energy use and an advisory report. 11.12.3 Building design The Urban Design Manual19 sets out how sustainable energy considerations should be incorporated into all stages of the design process. The Building Regulations, Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Energy – set out the requirements for dwellings20 and for buildings other than dwellings21. In order to ensure that the Building Regulations are fully taken into account in the design of any proposed dwelling, it will be a requirement that all planning applications be accompanied by a provisional BER cert stating that the proposed dwelling is in accordance with the current Technical Guidance Document L - Conservation of fuel and energy. 11.12.3.1 NZEB Building Regulations 2019 TGD -L Since new building regulations have improved energy performance of homes over the past 10 years all new homes after 2016 are now A-rated homes providing warmth and comfort with very low energy demand. The integration of 20% renewables is now typically achieved using 2-4 kW of solar PV with heating typically provided by electric heat pumps and electric car charging unit fitted in most homes. It is expected that batteries will be soon integrated into most homes and that they will store energy for use in home using smart appliances and charging electric vehicles over the next decade. 19 Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Urban Design Manual, A best practice guide 2009 20 Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Building Regulations 2011 Technical Guidance Document L Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings 21 Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Building Regulations 2008 Technical Guidance Document L Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Buildings other than dwellings

Source Kilkenny County Council: Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.