Private wire legislation should support microgrids which are community-owned and renewables-based – CEFOI
The Community Energy Federation of Ireland (CEFOI) recognises the potential for 100% community-owned renewables-based microgrids, and the benefits this can bring to communities. However, this potential will only be realised if “private wire” legislation provides a supportive framework for this. The Government has released a Private Wire Bill, but it falls short in several ways:…
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CEFOI: community energy is key for our rural future
CEFOI has made a submission to the government consultation on “Our Rural Future”. We are calling for investment in the rural electricity distribution grid, and the removal of barriers to community energy. We are calling for the following priorities to be included in the Government’s Rural Future policy: You can read our full submission here.
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Communities trying to set up renewable energy projects – thwarted by Government changing goal posts on grants
Throughout Ireland, many communities are working towards setting up community owned renewable generation projects. Community owned renewable energy generation and storage allows local people to invest in, own, and benefit from renewable energy directly, through democratic, participative “renewable energy communities” which are not for shareholder profit but rather reinvestment back into the community. However, communities…
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CEFOI outlines barriers at DECC/OECD fact finding
The Community Energy Federation of Ireland (CEFOI) took part in a meeting with OECD consultants at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) on Friday 17th October 2025, alongside several community energy organisations who are implementing, or working towards implementing, community-owned energy generation projects. This is part of an EU-funded DCEE project focused…
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CEFOI advocates for community owned microgrids in climate adaptation submission
The electricity climate change sectoral adaptation plan offers an opportunity to create grassroots bottom-up local resilience, through community owned, renewables-based, microgrids, capable of meeting essential electricity needs while islanded or disconnected from the main grid. This is the theme of Community Energy Federation of Ireland (CEFOI’s) submission to the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment’s…
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CEFOI inputs into REScoop submission on European Grids Package
REScoop.eu is the European federation of energy communities, and they made a submission to the European Grids Package consultation, which includes the observation that “In Ireland community energy projects face constraints such as the cost, long timeframes, and paperwork associated with getting connection agreements above a micro-scale”. CEFOI provided this input in RESCoop’s submission, to…
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CEFOI submits to Community Benefit Fund Consultation
On 7th March 2025, CEFOI submitted two recommendations to the Government’s Consultation on Community Benefit Funds under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme – 1) to clarify that 100% community owned energy projects are not required to establish Community Benefit Funds 2) Facilitate the investment of Community Benefit Funds into 100% Community Owned Energy, in an…
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Community Energy Federation of Ireland 