The rural SME in question, Agritech, are located on the outskirts of Nenagh. They recognised the opportunity to showcase their commitment to sustainability, while reducing their own running costs. They contacted Tipperary Energy Agency having heard of our work through our social media channels.
An energy audit was undertaken to identify the large energy users on site, as well as evaluating how they could be reduced. It was decided to apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Better Energy Communities (BEC) scheme to grant fund 30% of the capital costs of the works. The funding was granted, and work on the project could officially start.
All four upgrades had to be designed by Tipperary Energy Agency, then procured, ensuring public procurement guidelines were met, to ensure that the client got value for money. Drawings, specification documents and contracts had to be drawn/written up for all four of the upgrades, then a minimum of three quotes were gotten for each measure. Four separate contractors were then awarded contracts for the four measures. Tipperary Energy Agency acted as PSDP, the contractors as PSCS.
Tipperary Energy Agency managed the contractors during the actual upgrade works, then signed off on them when they were completed to our and the client’s satisfaction. The contractors were paid, then SEAI came out to inspect the job, to ensure it met their standards. Following this, the grant was drawn down, and O&M manuals were given over to the client, to complete the final handover.
12 months post works (in October 2018) measurement and verification (M&V) of all four measures will be done, to ensure that the project saved the energy that it was predicted they would, at design stage.
