This policy paper explores the status of community renewable energy in Ireland, identifies the barriers to developing community renewable energy and outlines potential options to overcome these barriers. A balanced renewable energy solution for Ireland should be an integrated mix of large, small, community and micro-scale development from various sources. Community based energy generation can play an important part in job creation, local income generation, enhancing support for renewable projects and ensuring community involvement in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon society. However, communities face several barriers which make it difficult to establish renewable energy projects. This paper identifies these barriers and looks to international experience, academic journal articles and reports from different stakeholders to identify potential options for encouraging community renewable energy.

Community Energy in Ireland report