_{As the cost of wasted renewable energy tops €1 billion since 2025, Co-operative Housing Ireland and EnergyCloud launch collaboration to tackle fuel poverty at Camac Crescent, Inchicore.}

Co-operative Housing Ireland and EnergyCloud have launched a collaboration to help residents in 20 social and affordable homes in Dublin 8 demonstrating that surplus renewable energy can be used to help with affordability and reduce energy bills.

The initiative at Camac Crescent, Inchicore, combines smart heating technology with upgraded storage heaters to help reduce household energy costs and provide warmer, more comfortable homes.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daryl Barron, who officially launched the initiative, said:

“We are standing at the intersection of two of the most critical challenges facing our city today – the cost-of-living crisis and the urgent need for climate action.

People often ask, ‘how can we focus on green energy when families are struggling with day-to-day expenses and energy bills. Today, in Camac Crescent, Co-operative Housing Ireland and Energycloud are providing real, scalable solutions. They are proving that smart climate action is not an added expense, it is a direct, practical tool for social good.”

The launch brought together Member Tenants, representatives of Co-operative Housing Ireland and EnergyCloud, and project partners to mark the completion of the heating upgrades and the introduction of the technology.

Co-operative Housing Ireland Member Tenant, Justine Reilly said:

“I couldn’t afford to use my old storage heaters as they were too expensive. With the Elnur heaters I can afford to run them and set them to the time I need the room heated. They are definitely more cost-efficient. The apartment is constantly warm and cosy.”

Across the 20 participating homes, older storage heaters have been replaced with modern, energy-efficient Elnur HHR PLUS models. Connected to EnergyCloud’s platform, the technology enables residents to benefit from surplus renewable electricity when it is available on the national grid.

The project is designed to bring the benefits of Ireland’s clean energy transition directly into people’s homes, connecting efforts to reduce renewable energy waste with practical support for households facing heating costs.

A report launched by EnergyCloud last month stated that despite the Government committing in the Programme for Government to use surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise be wasted, Ireland has now surpassed €1 billion in wasted renewable wind energy since the Government came to power in January 2025.

Kieron Brennan, CEO, Co-operative Housing Ireland, said:

“Providing a secure, affordable home also means looking at what it costs to live comfortably in that home. This initiative is helping to tackle fuel poverty by enabling residents to benefit from surplus renewable energy, while also improving home comfort and energy efficiency.

Across 20 homes, older storage heaters have been replaced with modern, energy-efficient models, helping to reduce energy costs and create warmer, more comfortable homes for Co-operative Housing Ireland Member Tenants, supporting our mission to not just deliver social and affordable housing, but to sustain communities within our homes right across Ireland."

Feedback collated by Co-operative Housing Ireland shows that cost of living remains the main concern for Member Tenants.

At Camac Crescent, smart technology allows the upgraded storage heaters to respond when surplus renewable electricity is available. The heaters store heat for use later, helping residents make use of clean electricity at times when it would otherwise risk going unused.

The collaboration brings together Co-operative Housing Ireland’s work to improve the quality and sustainability of its homes with EnergyCloud’s approach to tackling energy poverty through smarter use of renewable electricity. Since the partnership started over 13,000 tanks of hot water have been delivered, avoiding more than eight tonnes of CO₂ usage.

Alan Wyley, EnergyCloud (CEO) said:

“Countries across the world are investing in renewable energy, but no one knows what to do with the surplus. In Ireland, there will be over €600 million worth of renewable energy that dumped this year, we’re working to change Government Policy to reduce and in time stop this waste.”

Notes to Editors

About Co-operative Housing Ireland

Co-operative Housing Ireland is an Approved Housing Body working closely with various stakeholders in the housing sector, including Local Authorities, Government, and developers, to provide high quality social-rented homes across the country.

As a representative body, Co-operative Housing Ireland champions co-operative principles in delivering homes and supporting communities.

Co-operative Housing Ireland has been a leader in providing truly affordable homes across Ireland since 1973, historically supporting owner-occupier housing co-operatives to deliver 3,000 affordable homes, and today we own and manage over 7,000 social-rental homes across Ireland.

Our vision is of a society where everyone has access to housing delivered co-operatively.

About EnergyCloud

EnergyCloud is a registered charity whose vision is to end energy poverty.

Media Contact

Maeve Governey, Walsh PR
086 805 7884
maeve@walshpr.ie

Photography

Julien Behal
087 978 2542
julienbehalphotography@gmail.com

Images available on request.

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