Community Involvement

Our Ambassador Programme enabled us to work closely with customers to understand the impact of and potential role of low carbon and clean energy enabling technologies in the electricity network of the future.

The five selected ambassadors, from small business, farming and residential customer backgrounds, were representative of many of the different users of our electricity network but also the demographics of Irish society.

Each of these ambassadors had the following technologies installed at their property:

• Solar PV system;
• Residential-scale battery;
• Air Source Heat Pump;
• Electric Vehicle and Smart EV charger;
• Home Energy Monitoring System;

Solar PV systems were installed at 20 additional properties across the peninsula in early 2019.  Over the duration of the trail, the impact of Solar PV production on network voltage was assessed. 

Following an extensive local engagement campaign, 10 new EV Ambassadors, in addition to the 5 Project Ambassadors were selected to participate on the EV Trial. Each of the 15 participants on the 12 month trial received an electric vehicle and smart EV charger.  Towards the latter stages of the EV Trail, the smart EV chargers were replaced with the bi-directional (V2G) chargers at five properties.  Over the 12 month period, the impact of EV charging and V2G discharging on the network was assessed, together with optimization and control mechanisms to minimise such impacts.  

An additional 2 electric vehicles were made available, on a managed basis, to other members of the community, so that they also could enjoy the electric motoring experience.