Smart device uses excess heat from surplus renewable energy to power immersions

EnergyCloud, AWS initiative to benefit 150 homes in Galway

Life

John Mullins, EnergyCloud; Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach Hildegarde Naughton; Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Alan Dillon; Neil Morris, AWS

More than 150 Galway families will soon have their homes equipped with an EnergyCloud enabled smart device to allow them to benefit from free tanks of hot water from surplus renewable energy under a new EnergyCloud project in Galway with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The device uses surplus renewable energy, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat immersion tanks.

Neil Morris, country lead for Ireland at AWS, said: “AWS has been investing in Ireland for over 15 years and this collaboration with EnergyCloud Ireland highlights our continued commitment to local communities. EnergyCloud Ireland is a great example of an innovative technology solution where businesses can work together to create positive social impact.”

CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, Noel Cunniffe commented: “The vision of EnergyCloud is to use wind energy which would otherwise be wasted to instead provide hot water for homes living in energy poverty. As a country we are working towards having 80% of Ireland’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030 and that will make us much more weather dependent. Initiatives such as EnergyCloud help to maximise that opportunity to use energy when the wind is blowing, while also helping people in fuel poverty.”

John Mullins, chairperson of EnergyCloud Ireland added: “This support from Amazon Web Services will allow EnergyCloud support families throughout Galway. Access to free renewable energy means that families that are part of the EnergyCloud project can simultaneously save money on electricity while reducing their use of fossil fuels. The project is a win-win-win as we are collectively creating solutions for surplus energy rather than simply switching off wind turbines and solar panels. For example, according to EirGrid, 5480GWh of renewable wind energy was dispatched down between 2018 and 2023. That energy could have heated 1.825 billion hot water tanks and the approximate retail value of this wasted wind energy was €1.592 billion.”

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