Developed by Celtic Dynamics with the vital support of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme, this plan provides a practical look at Ballyhaunis’ current energy footprint and outlines a clear path forward for cost and carbon savings.

What is an Energy Master Plan?

At its core, an Energy Master Plan (EMP) is a structured document that captures how energy is currently used in a specific community, and identifies where improvements can be made. It doesn’t just focus on technical upgrades, it helps communities prioritise actions, plan investment, and understand where the greatest gains can be made. For residents, it offers clear information about the types of upgrades that are suitable to their homes and transport needs. For local groups and stakeholders, it provides a foundation for funding applications and a framework for project delivery.

Download the Energy Master Plan Summary here.

Highlights from the Launch Event

The evening was packed with local insights, expert guidance, and actionable steps:

• Official Opening: Cllr Alma Gallagher opened the event, highlighting the community’s collective vision for a greener future.

• The Master Plan Unveiled: Marcas Mac Donncha from Celtic Dynamics presented the core findings of our baseline energy and site assessments.

• Grant Funding: Dr. Orla Nic Suibhne (SEC Mentor) broke down SEAI’s home energy retrofit grants, showing how homeowners can access vital financial backing.

• Going Solar: David Doherty from Switch to Solar walked attendees through the immediate benefits of residential Solar PV.

Where Do We Stand? Our Baseline Energy Analysis

To build a sustainable future, we first had to evaluate exactly where Ballyhaunis stands today. Our baseline energy analysis revealed that the community currently spends a staggering €14,585,159 per year on energy across all sectors , resulting in 21,705 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Ballyhaunis Annual Energy Breakdown:

The Residential Focus: Retrofitting Our Homes

Ballyhaunis is home to 1,364 residences, consisting primarily of houses and bungalows (1,252), alongside 111 flats/apartments and 1 mobile home.

Currently, our local housing stock has an average Building Energy Rating (BER) of D2, which falls behind the national average of C2. Furthermore, 44.4% of our homes were built before modern energy conservation standards were introduced , and 65.2% still rely on oil as a heating source. This results in an average annual energy bill of €3,864.25 per household and average energy use of 21,879 kWh/dwelling/year (compared to the national average of 17,150 kWh).

The Residential Sustainable Energy Roadmap

To map out a real path forward, home energy assessments were completed by Churchfield Home Services on behalf of Celtic Dynamics Engineering Ltd. on a representative sample of 10 homes. We used these results to model an ambitious but achievable scenario: Upgrade all homes within the SEC with a rating of C1 or worse (equal to 80% of our homes) to a B2 rating or better.

By implementing systematic fabric upgrades alongside efficient technologies, the community can achieve extraordinary savings:

• 73.1% reduction in total residential energy use.

• 83.2% drop in residential CO2 emissions.

• 56.3% savings on energy costs, keeping over €3.1 million in the local economy every year!

1. Solar PV Optimisation

If a full deep retrofit isn’t your immediate next step, installing solar panels offers high standalone potential for homeowners.

• The Performance: We recommend up to a 4kWp solar array per residence, which typically generates 3–4 MWh of clean electricity per year.

• The Economics: The average cost to install a 4kWp system is €6,569. With an available SEAI grant of €1,800 , the final cost to the homeowner drops to €4,769.

• The Payoff: This single measure can cut a standard home’s electricity bill by 47.57%, translating to a direct savings of €986 every single year.

2. Revolutionising the Transport Sector

Cars are currently the most utilised means of transport in the Ballyhaunis SEC, contributing 4,786 tonnes of CO2 annually. Crucially, our data shows that 69.6% of journey times for daily commuting are under 45 minutes. This makes our community perfectly suited for a large-scale switch to electric vehicles.

• We modelled a scenario where 50% of cars within the SEC (687 vehicles) switch to electric.

• This shift would successfully reduce annual transport emissions by 1,257 tonnes of CO2.

• More impressively, it slashes transport energy costs from €2,530,984 down to just €930,492, putting €1,600,492 back into the pockets of local drivers annually!

Next Steps: Let’s Begin the Transition

This Energy Master Plan is more than just data on a page; it is a practical roadmap engineered to help our community systematically reduce energy consumption, access funding, and build a resilient future.

The Energy Master Plan is now available to view in a four-page summary booklet designed to be practical and accessible for residents. It outlines key findings from the audits, suggested retrofit measures, and links to available supports and grants. We encourage community members, stakeholders, and sector partners to review the material and engage with the next phase of action.

Download the booklet here or scroll to the bottom of this article for images.

Dylan Walsh CEO of Celtic Dynamics, who helped lead the project, explains:

“An Energy Master Plan gives communities like Ballyhaunis the information they need to make smart, sustainable choices – whether that’s upgrading homes, switching to electric vehicles, or planning solar installations. It’s not a one-size-fits-all model. It’s built on real data, from real households, with local input at every stage.”

What’s Next for Ballyhaunis’ SEC?

The SEC continues to meet regularly and will use the plan as a springboard to develop future projects, apply for grants, and engage more households in the process.

About the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme

This work is part of the SEAI’s Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) programme, a national initiative that supports communities to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. The programme provides technical guidance, mentoring, and access to funding to help SECs develop energy master plans and implement local solutions. There are now hundreds of SECs across the country – from small rural villages to large urban neighbourhoods – each working to shape energy systems that are cleaner, smarter and more local.