The aim of this EU Life funded project is to create local social enterprise "integrated home renovation services" in the North and West of Ireland. Under the project, GFI (Gníomhaireacht Fuinneamh an Iarthair) Local Energy Agency was established to support home retrofitting projects in the Galway Gaeltacht and the Islands. The agency helps homeowners and works with local contractors to provide a cohesive home renovation service Galway County Council are on the steering group for the project and partners include Údaras na Gaeltachta, CFOAT, ATU and the Local Authorities in the region. As part of this project, the Climate Unit took part in a number of public Energy Events in 2024. Work on this project is ongoing.
What is a Decarbonising Zone?
Oileáin Árann (the Aran Islands) have been identified as the Decarbonisation Zone (DZ) for the County. A DZ is a chosen area where local authorities and communities work together to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030 and share learnings with other communities. By looking within the community for ways to live and work more sustainably, these zones can find local solutions to global problems. The main objective of a Decarbonising Zone is to find innovative but achievable ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oileáin Árann, consisting of the three islands of Árainn (Inis Mór), Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, was designated as the Galway County Decarbonisation Zone in the Galway County Council Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.
The population of 1,347 (2022) is supplemented by 270,000 to 300,000 tourists annually. There are year-round ferry passenger, cargo and air services. 75% of the land area is designated as SAC.
The total GHG emissions within the DZ for the baseline year, 2018, equate to approximately 16 ktCO2e. The main sources of emissions are agriculture (35%), transport (34%) and residential (13%). Within the transport sector, ferries account for 87% of emissions, with 12% from road diesel and 2.2% from aviation.
The Comharchumann Fuinnimh Oileáin Árainn Teo (CFOAT) is a community owned energy cooperative representing the 3 islands. CFOAT is involved in a number of EU and nationally funded projects which has allowed it to employ 4 people locally.
Oileáin Árann DZ Fund
Galway County Council opened a new funding scheme in 2025 for organisations, businesses and communities of Oileáin Árann that are interested in developing projects and initiatives focusing on addressing climate change.
€60,000 is being made available through this new pilot DZ Climate Action Fund. The fund will support climate action projects in four key theme areas, namely, Energy, Travel, Food & Waste, and Local Environmental Action.
Applications to this fund are now closed, with all applications currently being assessed.
Ongoing Projects
A number of projects are ongoing to work towards reducing emissions by 51% by 2030 in the DZ. Details of these projects are avaliable below.
LEAP - Local Energy Agencies in Peripheral Regions - Life Project
Community Climate Action Fund
CFOAT was awarded funding of €13,600 for solar panels for the community centre on Árainn under the GCC Community Climate Action Fund in addition to funding for fruit trees - €150 and a beach toy library - € 415.80.
Clean Energy for EU Islands - 30 renewable islands by 2030
The Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative provides a long-term framework to help islands generate their own sustainable, low-cost energy. In 2023, the secretariat invited applications of interest under the 30 islands for 2030 programme. Galway County Council supported successful applications for both Oileáin Árann and Inishbofin. The secretariat is now providing technical support in a number of areas including an assessment of the potential for roof top solar, retrofit of traditional built homes and development of a community scale solar development. The Climate Unit are members of the Transition Team under the Clean energy for EU islands initiative.
ODEON Project
ODEON is a Horizon Europe funded research and innovation project aiming to develop the first European ecosystem for the digital energy transition to empower citizens and local energy communities to accelerate decarbonisation. The Oileáin Árann energy community is one of five dedicated European demonstration locations within ODEON.
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