COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 316

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

"That SDCC supports a geothermal pilot project in Newcastle’’

REPORT:

The South Dublin Spatial Energy Demand Analysis (SEDA) has been undertaken to inform the policies and objectives contained in Chapter 10 Energy and the development standards contained in Chapter 11 Implementation of the draft County Development Plan. The SEDA includes an analysis of heat density across the County, stemming from all heating requirements across the residential, commercial and municipal sectors. The SEDA has identified ten district heating Areas of Potential, six of which are located in Tallaght town centre. The Areas of Potential demonstrate a heat density in excess of 250 TJ / KM2.

Section 10.2.4 of the Draft Development Plan relates to Low Carbon District Heating Networks, such as that proposed to be development as a pilot project in Newcastle and states ‘District heating networks can be based on a variety of technologies and renewable energy sources, such as combined heat and power (CHP), biomass energy, geothermal or energy from waste. These schemes are particularly viable in built up areas, such as town centres, where there is sufficient heat demand and heat load diversity, including ‘anchor’ loads i.e. buildings with a high or even twenty-four hour heat demand. Such a mixed energy profile makes local district heating networks more economically viable and can result in reduced heat losses’.

Energy Policy 6 Low Carbon District Heating Networks supports the development of district heating networks across the County, which could include Newcastle. With regard to geothermal Energy Policy 6 states:

Energy (E) Policy 6 Low Carbon District Heating Networks

(ii) It is the policy of the Council to support the development of both deep and shallow geothermal energy sources throughout the County. Deep geothermal projects are particularly suited to areas demonstrating high heat densities.

E6 Objective 4:To support deep and shallow geothermal projects at appropriate locations across South Dublin County and in accordance with the South Dublin Spatial Energy Demand Analysis (SEDA).

To prescribe the development of a specific geothermal pilot project in Newcastle would be prioritising an area where sufficient heat densities have not been highlighted and would not accord with the Countywide heat density analysis undertaken as part of the South Dublin Spatial Energy Demand Analysis.

The development of a geothermal energy project in South Dublin County may include Newcastle, but evidence from the Countywide analysis, undertaken as part the South Dublin Spatial Energy Demand Analysis, does not support the case for a pilot geothermal project specific to Newcastle in preference to other locations in the County.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the motion is not adopted.