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Come along to this Public Meeting.

Tuesday 21^th October at 7:30pm Killorglin CYMS.

The meeting will focus particularly on solar installation and a Solar Meitheal or “group installation for huge savings”.

This is part of the Killorglin Master Plan Review and will include some other general information on home energy upgrades.

KSEC at 10

KSEC was set-up in 2015, and now has just over 200 shareholders or members.

Now, on this 10^th anniversary, we want to take stock or review, both to recall and look forward. To do so we need your input and have set up two ‘Meitheals’ or work groups.

All KSEC members are invited to participate in both groups.

1. The Recall Meitheal: will gather a list of our activities over the last decade and note some lessons learned.
2. The Future Meitheal will set the strategic objectives for the next period and review our structures.

The Recall Meitheal: Past Events

Some prompts: 
Week-long Energy Fair-Tralee Library/AGMs/Solar Info sessions/Energy Fair with Tralee Tidy Towns/Energy Fairs Killarney with Cara Credit Union/Info Stalls/LEADER Roadshow around 9 towns/EMP Killorglin/Field Trip-Astellas/ SEC gatherings/Social Media.

The Future Meitheal: Future Direction

Some prompts:
KSEC’s specific objectives for the next few years with structures and rules to suit.
At present KSEC is technically a business. Other models-a charity or not for profit.
Future activities- your interests/would you help eg in a working group? How does this fit with our aims?
How can KSEC help: eg Identify barriers to adoption of sustainable technologies and practices.
Mitigate the impact of loss of power eg including overcoming the requirement to turn off own PV when ‘Mains’ fails.
Disseminate information including loan items eg meters in libraries.
Also welcome: General comments that do not fit elsewhere in this framework.
This first phase is to obtain information, views and comments before holding an on-line brain-storming members’ session.

Send your contribution, views and thoughts for both Recall & Future Meithealsl to info@ksec.ie. by 30^th September 2025.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Kevin O’Farrell

KSEC Chairperson

2 September 2025

It was an early start from Castleisland for three KSEC members , Kevin, Alex and Sylvia but an even earlier one for the Dingle Hub team. We collected one more in Adare and met up with others in Portlaoise including Michael, KSEC.  It was a very full day with excellent presentations by various SECs from around the country, some keynote addresses  and a variety of really interactive and useful stands and exhibitions.

Here’s a short video that gives an overview of SECs around the country.

SEC Celebration 2025 – YouTube

And here are some of the success stories shared by different SECs

Group_1_SEC_Sharing_Successes_.pdf

Group_2_SEC_Sharing_Successes.pdf

The aim of the day was to ‘Share learnings, network and connect with other SEC’s at the 2025 gathering’ and It certainly did that. We returned to Kerry with renewed enthusiasm, plenty of ideas for implementation at local level and links to follow up

Welcome to our Summer Newsletter.

In it you will find news of our AGM, our new Board, the SEC National Gathering, Wood Prices and KSEC`s new CE Admin Support, Alex.

There’s a lot happening so please click on the links to learn more.

Reminder to pay

Thanks to those of you who have already renewed/paid your annual membership for 2025 (€10 Individual & €50 for group or business). You can pay by bank transfer or via the website. Please note that if you only joined in November or later, you don’t have to pay again until March/April 2026 (If unsure, check with Alex admin@ksec.ie).

KSEC Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Kerry Sustainable Energy Co-operative held its AGM on the 5^th April again in Tralee Bay Wetlands. It was an `energising` AGM and we heard very positive news from Brighter Kerry and a most interesting presentation on anaerobic digestion.

Click here for full account.

KSEC Board Members

The new board members elected at the April AGM were: Donal Mangan, Stephen Pierce, Sylvia Thompson, Michael Fitzgerald, Kevin O Farrell with Deirdre De Bhailís (Dingle Hub) as a shadow member. Roles: Kevin – chairperson, Michael – minutes secretary. Treasure role – vacant.

SEC`s National Gathering

Saturday 7^th June 2025, Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. KSEC members are invited and some transport may be available. If interested → please contact Sylvia at info@ksec.ie. Get inspired about what your SEC can achieve next, and connect with like-minded communities working towards shared energy goals.

Further information read here.

 KSEC Firewood Scheme

The new price has been agreed and an increase of €10 per bag will take effect immediately. All wood customers have been informed.

Read more here

Despite this increase, we hope that members will continue to support our firewood scheme. The small profit from this scheme and our annual membership subscriptions are KSEC’s only means of income.

Admin Support

Alex joined the KSEC team as our ‘Admin Support’ on KSEC 14^th April wishes to thank Ballymacelligott Community Employment (CE) Scheme for sending us another dedicated worker and the Pastoral Centre, Killarney for office space. Alex` email is admin@ksec.ie

(Alex works Mon/Tue/Wed, 9-4).

             

Saturday 7th June 2025, Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

A day about celebrating and recognising the incredible work being done by Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) right across Ireland.

A diverse and exciting showcase of community-led SEC projects from across the country.

Get inspired about what your SEC can achieve next, and connect with like-minded communities working towards shared energy goals.

Register here

The Kerry Sustainable Energy Co-operative (KSEC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 5^th April again in Tralee Bay Wetlands.

As twenty-one members were present, the normal AGM business proceeded with Adrian Williams chairing. This included adoption of the Minutes of 2023, and the accounts. The incoming board was tasked with the decision of raising the price of the firewood due to lack of profit and actual loss with a margin of €10 suggested. The appointment of auditor Duffy Burke for 2025 and authorisation of borrowing powers for KSEC (Up to €10, 000) were also greed

Adrian as chair gave an overview of the year which included outreach activities, and the Astellas Field Trip, the work of the CE workers, exciting developments in Brighter Kerry and the challenges facing the new board with the roles of chairperson, treasurer and secretary now vacant. Thanks were expressed to the board for their year’s work, Ballymacelligott Community Employment scheme and the Pastoral Centre in Killarney (office) and Tralee Bay Wetlands.

The new board members elected are Donal Mangan, Stephen Pierce, Sylvia Thompson, Michael Fitzgerald, Kevin O’Farrell with Deirdre de Bhailís, Dingle Hub continuing as a shadow member.

The retiring members, Adrian and David Garner, were thanked for their work on the board.

Hugh Reynolds of Brighter Kerry(brighter.ie) gave an update on its recent positive developments with regard to the community owned solar farm. The government scheme will purchase the electricity under SRESS, the route of the Killarney bypass will not impact the solar farm; the grid assessment is valid for two years from ESB networks; two EIIS funds are happy to back the project and Brighter Kerry are confident they can raise the money on their terms or better; they have signed the lease with one of the landowners and expect the second to follow suit. A Renewable Energy Community (REC) must be formed to apply for SRESS with an SEC as shareholder and they hope KSEC will fill this role. They are inviting 20 to 30 people to become founder shareholders. Following the AGM Hugh collected some signatures and nominal sums (€1’s).  Great interest and enthusiasm was expressed in this project.

Following the AGM, Tim Leahy, KSEC member gave a wonderful presentation on his ‘Long Road to Anaerobic Digestion’ in North Kerry. In the future, KSEC will be invited on a field trip to visit the plant. Tim was congratulated on his persistence and patience with the process.

Calling all KSEC Members/Shareholders!

KSEC AGM will take place on Saturday April 5th @11am in Tralee Bay Wetlands.

Now’s the time to renew your annual membership fee, €10 Individual and €50 Group.

We need to have a minimum of 20 members present to achieve a quorum, so we look forward to seeing you. Check your email in- box for your invitation and kindly RSVP.

This will be followed by a short talk on Anaerobic Digestion by Tim Leahy, KSEC Member.

KSEC has five Energy Savings leaflets, with information on lighting, insulation, ventilation and one with really practical points for actions at home.

These are available in some libraries but are now right here on the website.

Click the link and scroll to the end of the page.

Energy Saving Information Sessions – Kerry Sustainable Energy Co-operative

Dingle Solar Event Wed 5th March

7pm -8.30pm Benners Hotel

Fáilte roimh cách.