Case Study: Tipperary, the Low Carbon Energy Transition and the Bio-economy Tipperary County Council has long recognised the importance of the low carbon energy transition, both to the quality of lives of citizens and the opportunities it brings in terms of rural economic growth and development. The partnership approach of Tipperary County Council, Tipperary Energy Agency (TEA), Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), business and communities was formalised in 2017 with the establishment of ‘Sustainable Tipp’. This partnership has led to some key achievements and initiatives, including: • The Council is the leading local authority and one of the leading public bodies inmeeting energy efficiency targets, having exceeded the 33% 2020 target in 2017; • The Council has met and exceeded national targets for energy efficiency in public buildings, is the owner of the largest solar installation in the country and has switched 90% of its heat use from fossil fuels to renewable combined heat and power; • Tipperary is home to Cloughjordan eco-village and Templederry community owned wind farm; • TEA is leading research and delivering exemplar community initiatives such as ‘Superhomes’, ‘Better Energy Communities’, ‘Insulate Tipp’ etc. Gurteen College, through micro-generation of wind and solar PV and energy efficiency measures, has reduced its energy demand in heating and electricity by half. Tipperary is at the heart of the global bio-economy opportunity and is designated as a ‘European Model Demonstrator Region’. The location of the National Bio-Economy Campus is at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. This National Campus was developed through the Irish Bio-economy Foundation bringing together relevant stakeholders, including universities, private enterprise and is supported through Enterprise Ireland. The campus will have a range of facilities which will enable industry, entrepreneurs and researchers to scale technologies that convert Ireland’s natural resources (including residues) to products of high value for use in a wide variety of sectors including food ingredients, feed ingredients, pharmaceuticals, natural chemicals, biodegradable plastics and more.
RPO 59
National Bio-economy Hub in Lisheen
It is an objective to support the sustainable development of the Lisheen Bio-economy Hub site into a significant economic and employment driver with the potential to significantly contribute towards meeting Ireland’s climate change targets as a strategic site of European significance. Such initiatives as the Lisheen site shall be subject to robust environmental assessment including Flood Risk Assessment (if required) and satisfy AA requirements so as to avoid adverse effects on the integrity of European Sites.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Social Enterprise is enterprise that achieves social, societal or environmental impact, rather than solely maximising profit. It pursues its objectives by trading through the provision of goods and/or services, and by reinvesting surpluses into achieving social objectives 8 . Social enterprises make a valuable contribution through job creation, the delivery of services such as homecare, childcare, employment activation, retail, hospitality and catering, environmental services, and social housing. They are innovative, entrepreneurial and are increasingly utilising new technologies and creative approaches to address social, societal or environmental challenges. Through the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland , the objective is for social enterprise in Ireland to grow. Implementation of the policy will open new opportunities to address social and environmental challenges, contribute to the revitalisation of local communities throughout the country, and support many of those most vulnerable in society.
RPO 60
Social Enterprise It is an objective to develop social enterprises and the circular economy within local communities to benefit environmental protection, employment generation and community development.
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National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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