Veolia Help Group Water Scheme Launch Solar Energy Project

Co-operative water plant introduces first initiative of its kind in Ireland

Polecat Springs Group Water Scheme (GWS), working with Veolia, has become the first Group Water Scheme to use renewable energy to directly power its water treatment plant. Located near Elphin, County Roscommon, the site will be able to reduce energy costs by 70%, and cut carbon emissions, following the launch of a new solar panel project. The photovoltaic (PV) system will directly help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions and enable the local community to benefit from water treatment cost savings.

Polecat Springs GWS supplies water to rural properties covering 80 square kilometres stretching from Elphin Town northwards to Carrick on Shannon and from Ballinameen eastwards to the River Shannon and is operated as a community co-operative. Installation of the new solar panels means electricity, which was previously drawn from the National Grid, will now be used to power the various stages of the water treatment process.

The solar panels were chosen as they provided the best solution due to the location of the site and the amount of electricity required. In addition, there is also the future possibility to integrate battery storage at the site, which has the potential to make the water treatment plant 100% self-sufficient.

Operated under a contract by Veolia, the project has been supported by the Federation Of Group Water Schemes and been backed by a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant covering 50% of the investment. The resultant energy cost savings will enable the project to pay for itself within six years, and the project was installed by Veolia, Clár ICH and Eco Smart.

Joe Higgins, Regional Director, Veolia added: “While developments similar to the one at Polecat Springs have been done at a municipal level, this is the first GWS that is using sustainable energy to power its water treatment plant operations. Veolia is delighted to have been involved in the project and we hope that more water schemes will invest in sustainable energy in the future.”

Eugene Cummins, Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council said: “It is great to see the community around Polecat Springs investing in a more sustainable future that will see significant savings in energy and will contribute in a very positive way to climate change at a local level. This community initiative is an example to all and hopefully other schemes and communities will follow the example set by the Polecat Springs Group Water Scheme”

The Group Water Schemes’ Programme was introduced in 1962 to provide grant aid to rural communities for the construction of water distribution systems from local water sources. Communities set up voluntary co-operative structures known as Group Water Schemes to privately manage these water systems, with operating costs funded through contributions from Group members and Central Government subsidies.

For more information visit www.veolia.co.uk.

About Veolia
Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 171,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions which contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.

In 2018, the Veolia group supplied 95 million people with drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater service, produced nearly 56 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 49 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement recorded consolidated revenue of €25.91B in 2018.

About Polecat Springs Group Water Scheme
Polecat Springs GWS supplies water to a mostly rural hinterland in North East Roscommon. The scheme is operated as a Community Co-operative, is managed by a committee of 14 volunteers from the local area and has been in operation for over 18 years. There are over 600 shareholders in the scheme including individual households, farms and combinations of both.

About Clár ICH
Clár ICH is a Voluntary Housing Association located in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Established in 2000, the charities original objective was to provide quality social housing to the most vulnerable in Claremorris as well as delivering housing - related services. These include; the delivery of the Care and Repair Programme, the management of the Lawn Social Housing Scheme and a Rural Resettlement. Clár ICH is a Lead Partner and Coordinator of SEAI’s Better Energy Communities Programme annually since 2012.

About Eco Smart
Eco Smart specialises in energy saving solutions and delivering BEC projects. The company was set up in 2013 by Patrick Lavin and Adam Dybkowski. Both are from an engineering and architectural background. Eco Smart is a registered member of the recognised industry organisations including SEAI and NSAI.