Comharchumann Chléire

2. ComharchumannChléire Máirtín Ó Méalóid Manager, Comharchumann Chléire Teoranta OileánChléire, ContaeChorcaí E mail - mairtinomealoid@eircom.net Websites - www.oilean-chleire.ie www.capeclearisland.ie Guthán - 00353 28 39119 Mobile phone - 00353 86 8322855

3. Comharchumann Chléire-SMILEGOV • Cooperative set up by the islanders in 1969 • Main role in bringing electricity to the island in partnership with the Electricity Supply Board. • Established a number of enterprises to create sustainable employment, these included island based pottery, fish farm, campsite and facilitated many small business start ups. • Irish Summer College established in 1972

5. Cléire Wind Energy System Ireland’s first integrated wind energy system!! • Utilised 2 x 33kw windmills to provide electricity during suitable periods, also charged a large bank of batteries for conversion during times when wind was slack. Some power sold to grid. • Diesel generators used to provide power when needed. • Oileán Chléire anxious to revive wind energy to provide power and generate income.

6. Challenges and Shortcomings • The windmills utilised were too small to be commercially viable in the longer term. • There was no support from the Irish Government in maintaining the Wind Energy System, the original project was supported by the German Department of Energy as a fact finding exercise. • Medium sized machines suitable for the harsh conditions on the island were not available at that time (early 1990s).

7. Challenges and Shortcomings • Unit price for selling electricity was too low also, this may have been set purposely low to discourage alternative energy generation. • The licensing process in Ireland is very slow with projects taking anything up to 5 years from concept to full implementation. • Local, regional, national and European regulations and directives can create direct impediments to natural resource based projects, particularly in the islands.

12. Is there a lack of vision?? • We see from the previous diagram that waste generated power is a minute contributor. • There is no contribution from wave power. • Is the implementation of Natura 2000 a negative barrier to investment in wave power and other natural resource based projects? • Can we make a case for the islands at all levels of administration to lessen the burden of regulations and other impediments?

13. Cléire - Water Conservation • Island struggling to provide sufficient water during the summer months, with the water turned off at night during the tourist season. • Currently exploring the possibility of a dual system where collected water would be used for toilets and other activities where potable water is not required. • Water Management needs to be part of solution in the long term.

14. Flushing away the drinking water! • On Oileán Chléire we are using the same water for flushing toilets as we use for drinking, this is a very energy inefficient system and needs to be corrected! • Recently there has been a pilot project using desalinisation to top up the island water during the summer months, this system can help but is extremely bad value from an energy and financial point of view.

15. Oifig Eolas