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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Cork community groups funded to keep fighting climate change through innovative projects
The funding will also go towards installing solar PV installations on community buildings across the county. The projects were selected as part of the Community Climate Action Programme for their capacity to engage communities and deliver measurable climate benefits, supporting national and local climate targets. The programme, developed and funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), aims to address climate change at a local level and support and empower communities to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities to contribute to national climate and energy targets. 'These projects are a wonderful example of what local communities can achieve with the right support. They reflect the energy, commitment and innovation of communities across Cork County who are playing their part in taking climate action," said the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, added: 'Cork County Council is committed to supporting meaningful climate action and sustainability initiatives. These projects along with the projects funded under the previous call demonstrate what can be achieved through partnership with local communities. We will continue to work closely with local communities to drive forward our shared climate goals.' The eleven community groups in County Cork to receive the climate action funding are the Tiny Feet Fairy Garden in Macroom, Charleville Tidy Towns, Kiskeam Development Association, Mitchelstown Scout Group, Dromina Community Council, Araglen Carnival, Freemount Community Development Association, Lisgoold/Leamlara Community Council, Aghinagh GAA, Conna Community Council Housing for the Elderly Association CLG, and Newmarket GAA. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Agriland
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
Minister outlines collection of used agricultural tyres from farms
The Minister for the Environment has confirmed that Circol ELT – which operates Ireland's tyre compliance scheme – is planning to collect used tyres 'lawfully held on farms' this year. According to Minister Darragh O'Brien the collection is part of a move to support the agri sector to adapt to regulations set out in a scheme designed to ensure that producers have responsibility to 'finance the collection and environmentally sound waste management of their products at end of life'. From the beginning of this year agricultural tyres are now included in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme, which operates similar to the system in place for farm plastics. Under existing legislation first introduced in 2017 tyre producers pay an environmental management cost (EMC) to Circol ELT, who organise the collection of end-of-life tyres. Previously agricultural, truck or bus, construction and industrial tyres did not incur an EMC. However from January 1, 2025, the EPR Scheme includes all categories of bus, truck, agricultural, construction and industrial waste tyres. Tyres According to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) the management of used tyres is a 'technological, economic and ecological challenge' for Ireland. Last year it held a consultation on extending the EPR Scheme which also included proposed new EMCs for various categories: Source: DECC (2024) Minister Darragh O'Brien said although the consultation on the extension of the scheme closed in late October last year his department is currently considering the 'implications of an extension of the scheme'. He said that 'any such extension is underpinned by careful analysis of the implications, with a view to the long-term viability of an extended scheme'. Previously the president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Francie Gorman, warned that the inclusion of agricultural tyres in the the EPR Scheme would create a new 'black economy and result in a significant reduction in VAT and revenue lost to the Irish exchequer'.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Ed Miliband is to blame for Britain's disastrous smart meter rollout
Britain's disastrous smart meter rollout can be traced back to a decision made by Labour during Ed Miliband's first stint as energy secretary. Labour made the unusual move in 2009 to entrust the rollout of smart meters to energy suppliers, while most of Europe relied on local network operators. As the Government continues to lag behind its target to have smart meters installed in three quarters of homes by 2025, industry insiders fear that Mr Miliband's now-defunct climate change department made 'the wrong call' at the rollout's earliest stage. During his first stint as energy secretary, Mr Miliband tasked a newly created Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) with ensuring all households had a smart meter installed by 2020, a target which has since been watered down several times. The department consulted in 2009 on how best to meet the targets, and ultimately decided to entrust the rollout to energy companies, rather than distribution network operators (DNOs). DNOs connect households to the electricity network, and manage the movement of energy from power stations into homes and businesses. In most European countries, network operators were placed in charge of smart meter rollouts for ease of delivery and cost. The energy department maintains that trusting suppliers to finish the smart meter rollout was 'the most convenient option for households', having considered but ultimately rejected a DNO-led option in a 2009 impact assessment. The impact assessment concluded that the net benefits of each approach were 'very close'. DECC forecast the DNO option would have a net benefit of £5.65bn, while the predicted benefit of using suppliers was £5.98bn. Almost a decade later, an independent review of the rollout found that it had been a 'mistake with profound consequences' to leave the rollout in the hands of suppliers. The review, written in 2017 by Professor Dieter Helm, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, noted that Labour's approach contrasted with 'almost every other European country', which had opted for DNO-led rollouts. Labour had argued at the time that suppliers were thought to bring innovation, especially through customer relationships. But Professor Helm said the rollout had instead been 'haphazard, patchy and high-cost'. He added that costs passed on to consumers had been higher than they would have been. The Competition and Markets Authority had argued that smart meters would make it easier for customers to switch. But Professor Helm said suppliers were instead encouraged to 'capture and keep customers', and that switching was not in suppliers' interests. This became problematic when millions of first generation smart meters went 'dumb' when households attempted to switch suppliers. Even now, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero estimates some four million smart meters do not work properly. A senior energy source said: 'As it turns out, the rest of the world was right and the UK was wrong. 'Ed Miliband made the wrong call then. The whole programme has been a disaster, costing consumers billions so far, and the deadline for completion keeps getting pushed back. 'Mr Miliband is once again in charge of the department and making some big calls on net zero – with a highly questionable track record.' Ministers were reportedly lobbied heavily by energy companies while the policy was being thrashed out. Juliet Philips, of lobby group Beyond Fossil Fuels, said that while it was 'a little unfair to blame Ed Miliband, when the plateau of the smart meter rollout happened under the Conservatives', there had been missed opportunities throughout the rollout to mandate smart meter installation. She added: 'I'm not sure it's a silver bullet solution, but I think DNOs should certainly play more of a role in the future. 'I can see the logic of a DNO-led rollout, as well as more place-based approaches to installing smart meters on a street-by-street basis – particularly given the transition away from 2G and 3G.' The Data Communications Company, which connects smart meters to homes, declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph. The company's former chief executive, Angus Fleet, argued that 'now is definitely time to pivot' to a DNO-led rollout. Writing in trade publication, Utility Week, he said: 'I believe it is also time to make smart meters mandatory. 'The amount of time, effort and money spent trying to persuade could be better spent on innovation, new services and reducing energy bills for consumers.' A spokesman from Energy Networks Association said: 'We respect the Government's decision to appoint energy suppliers to lead the rollout of smart meters. 'In Britain, suppliers have responsibility for metering and any transition of responsibility at this stage would be operationally challenging and likely incur additional costs and delays.' A DESNZ spokesman said: 'There are now 37 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Britain, making up 65pc of all gas and electricity meters. 'These are giving consumers more control over their energy and helping to save money on their bills. 'Energy suppliers install smart meters as this is the most convenient option for households. They can service both gas and electricity meters – unlike electricity distribution network operators. 'Smart meters are not mandatory, but households may be missing out on cheaper deals if they do not have one.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
24-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Why Ed Miliband is to blame for Britain's disastrous smart meter rollout
Britain's disastrous smart meter rollout can be traced back to a decision made by Labour during Ed Miliband's first stint as energy secretary. Labour made the unusual move in 2009 to entrust the rollout of smart meters to energy suppliers, while most of Europe relied on local network operators. As the Government continues to lag behind its target to have smart meters installed in three quarters of homes by 2025, industry insiders fear that Mr Miliband's now-defunct climate change department made 'the wrong call' at the rollout's earliest stage. During his first stint as energy secretary, Mr Miliband tasked a newly created Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) with ensuring all households had a smart meter installed by 2020, a target which has since been watered down several times. The department consulted in 2009 on how best to meet the targets, and ultimately decided to entrust the rollout to energy companies, rather than distribution network operators (DNOs). DNOs connect households to the electricity network, and manage the movement of energy from power stations into homes and businesses. In most European countries, network operators were placed in charge of smart meter rollouts for ease of delivery and cost. The energy department maintains that trusting suppliers to finish the smart meter rollout was 'the most convenient option for households', having considered but ultimately rejected a DNO-led option in a 2009 impact assessment. The impact assessment concluded that the net benefits of each approach were 'very close'. DECC forecast the DNO option would have a net benefit of £5.65bn, while the predicted benefit of using suppliers was £5.98bn. Almost a decade later, an independent review of the rollout found that it had been a 'mistake with profound consequences' to leave the rollout in the hands of suppliers. The review, written in 2017 by Professor Dieter Helm, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, noted that Labour's approach contrasted with 'almost every other European country', which had opted for DNO-led rollouts. Labour had argued at the time that suppliers were thought to bring innovation, especially through customer relationships. But Professor Helm said the rollout had instead been 'haphazard, patchy and high-cost'. He added that costs passed on to consumers had been higher than they would have been. The Competition and Markets Authority had argued that smart meters would make it easier for customers to switch. But Professor Helm said suppliers were instead encouraged to 'capture and keep customers', and that switching was not in suppliers' interests. This became problematic when millions of first generation smart meters went 'dumb' when households attempted to switch suppliers. Even now, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero estimates some four million smart meters do not work properly. A senior energy source said: 'As it turns out, the rest of the world was right and the UK was wrong. 'Ed Miliband made the wrong call then. The whole programme has been a disaster, costing consumers billions so far, and the deadline for completion keeps getting pushed back. 'Mr Miliband is once again in charge of the department and making some big calls on net zero – with a highly questionable track record.' Ministers were reportedly lobbied heavily by energy companies while the policy was being thrashed out. Juliet Philips, of lobby group Beyond Fossil Fuels, said that while it was 'a little unfair to blame Ed Miliband, when the plateau of the smart meter rollout happened under the Conservatives', there had been missed opportunities throughout the rollout to mandate smart meter installation. She added: 'I'm not sure it's a silver bullet solution, but I think DNOs should certainly play more of a role in the future. 'I can see the logic of a DNO-led rollout, as well as more place-based approaches to installing smart meters on a street-by-street basis – particularly given the transition away from 2G and 3G.' The Data Communications Company, which connects smart meters to homes, declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph. The company's former chief executive, Angus Fleet, argued that 'now is definitely time to pivot' to a DNO-led rollout. Writing in trade publication, Utility Week, he said: 'I believe it is also time to make smart meters mandatory. 'The amount of time, effort and money spent trying to persuade could be better spent on innovation, new services and reducing energy bills for consumers.' A spokesman from Energy Networks Association said: 'We respect the Government's decision to appoint energy suppliers to lead the rollout of smart meters. 'In Britain, suppliers have responsibility for metering and any transition of responsibility at this stage would be operationally challenging and likely incur additional costs and delays.' A DESNZ spokesman said: 'There are now 37 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Britain, making up 65pc of all gas and electricity meters. 'These are giving consumers more control over their energy and helping to save money on their bills. 'Energy suppliers install smart meters as this is the most convenient option for households. They can service both gas and electricity meters – unlike electricity distribution network operators. 'Smart meters are not mandatory, but households may be missing out on cheaper deals if they do not have one.'
