From Planning to Delivery: How Corofin SEC Turned an Energy Master Plan into Community Action
Corofin Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) turned its Energy Master Plan into real action, securing funding, delivering energy upgrades and bringing the community together around a shared vision for a more sustainable future.
Background
Corofin SEC, Co. Clare, supports local action on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability. Operating under the governance of Corofin Town Team, the SEC brings together volunteers with expertise in community development, education, communications and climate action.
Serving a village of approximately 700 people, the SEC works closely with schools, community groups, sporting clubs, businesses and residents to support local energy and climate goals.
The SEC aims to:
- Improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses and community buildings
- Support households to access retrofit advice and grants
- Increase the uptake of renewable energy technologies
- Deliver community energy projects through local partnerships
- Promote sustainable transport and environmental initiatives
- Build long-term community capacity for climate action
The project
Corofin completed its Energy Master Plan (EMP) in 2024 to 2025 to better understand local energy use and identify opportunities to reduce energy demand, costs and carbon emissions.
Covering the Corofin and Rath electoral districts, the study included approximately 777 homes, of which around 640 are permanently occupied.
The EMP identified:
- Annual community energy demand of approximately 20,712 MWh
- Annual energy-related emissions of approximately 5,514 tonnes of CO₂
- Annual community energy expenditure of approximately €3.8 million
The plan established a baseline for future action and helped the SEC identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, increase renewable energy use and support households and community organisations to access funding.
Engaging the community
Corofin recognised early that successful delivery would depend on community participation as much as technical analysis.
The SEC hosted information evenings in the community hall and created a welcoming atmosphere with refreshments, spot prizes and opportunities for informal conversations with energy experts. Activities included children's art competitions, Green Schools presentations and energy awareness events.
Green Schools Coordinator Miriam McNamara played a key role in involving pupils from Corofin National School.
“Engaging the children proved to be one of the smartest things we did. Once the children became involved, the parents naturally followed.”
The SEC also organised the North Clare Energy Fair, bringing together residents, community organisations, retrofit suppliers and homeowners who had already completed energy upgrades. By sharing practical experiences alongside technical advice, the event helped build confidence and encouraged more people to begin their retrofit journey.
Building trust and awareness
Residents could borrow a heat loss detector to better understand the energy performance of their homes. The SEC promoted the initiative through local organisations, including GAA and camogie clubs.
Support from trusted local energy consultants and technical advisers through the EMPowER Clare programme helped build confidence in the Energy Master Plan process. Residents valued access to independent advice from people they knew and trusted.
The SEC also invested in a dedicated social media consultant to develop promotional materials and increase awareness. Posters, leaflets, local media coverage and QR-code booking links helped drive participation and encourage households to engage with energy audits and events.
Results
Turning the plan into action
The Energy Master Plan quickly delivered practical results.
Energy audits for Corofin Community Hall and Corofin GAA Club led to successful funding applications for energy upgrades.
Corofin Community Hall secured €67,000 to install solar PV panels with battery storage, improve insulation and upgrade to LED lighting. The hall now generates renewable electricity on site, powering community facilities and lighting for the adjoining playing field.
The SEC also partnered with Corofin Community Hall, Corofin Tidy Towns, Corofin GAA Club and the North Clare Agricultural Show on a successful Climate Action Fund application, securing approximately €17,000 for additional climate initiatives.
The committee found that the Energy Master Plan (EMP) provided more than technical data. It created the evidence base, partnerships and confidence needed to secure investment and progress projects from planning to delivery.
Tackling energy poverty
The Energy Master Plan identified energy poverty as a priority issue.
Recognising that many vulnerable households face barriers to retrofit supports, the SEC worked with EMPowER Clare and EcoVision to identify areas where residents were most likely to experience difficulties with energy costs.
The committee organised an electricity bill information evening and invited residents to bring their bills for practical guidance and one-to-one support. Around 45 people attended, highlighting the value of delivering trusted advice directly within the community.
The SEC plans to repeat similar events as part of its ongoing engagement programme.
What’s next?
Corofin SEC continues to use its Energy Master Plan as a roadmap for future action.
The project brought together schools, community groups, sporting organisations, local businesses, residents and volunteers. Partners including Corofin Town Team, Corofin Tidy Towns, Corofin Community Hall, Corofin GAA Club, the North Clare Agricultural Show, Festival of Finn, Clare Community Energy Agency, EMPowER Clare and EcoVision all contributed to its success.
By working together, these organisations achieved more through shared expertise, joint funding applications and collaborative projects than any could have achieved alone.
The SEC will continue to deliver projects identified through the Energy Master Plan, support households on their retrofit journey and develop new community energy initiatives.
For Corofin, the lasting impact of the Energy Master Plan extends beyond energy upgrades and funding success. It has strengthened community connections, built local capacity and demonstrated what people can achieve when they work together towards a shared vision for a sustainable future.
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