Kildare Co. Council partners with EnergyCloud and Microsoft on renewable energy initiative
Kildare County Council has announced a new partnership with EnergyCloud, a charity that uses innovative solutions to divert otherwise wasted renewable energy to homes, and Microsoft to deliver an initiative that will provide 200 households with hot water using surplus renewable electricity.
The scheme, which is being rolled out in County Kildare for the first time, will help reduce renewable energy waste while benefiting approximately 550 people living in the Council’s social housing.
Participating households will receive an EnergyCloud-enabled smart device that diverts surplus renewable electricity, which would otherwise go to waste, to heat water in the home, turning unused energy into a direct benefit for families.
The initiative addresses a significant and growing challenge in Ireland’s energy system. According to Eirgrid, in 2025, 11.4% of renewable wind energy and 12% of all renewable energy was dispatched down, or wasted, as the grid was unable to carry all the generated power. On any given night, the surplus electricity going to waste nationally is enough to heat as many as 3 million domestic water tanks. By diverting this excess energy to homes, EnergyCloud turns an environmental loss into a direct benefit for families and communities.
Sonya Kavanagh, chief executive, Kildare County Council, said: “This pilot is a very positive initiative for our tenants in social housing. By working with EnergyCloud and Microsoft, we are putting surplus renewable energy to practical use in the home, helping to improve comfort for families while also supporting our wider climate goals.”
Alan Wyley, chief executive officer, EnergyCloud Ireland, said: “By putting surplus renewable energy to practical use in people’s homes, we can reduce waste while delivering a real, everyday benefit for families. This project is a strong example of how local collaboration can turn unused renewable energy into meaningful impact for communities.”
The initiative builds on Microsoft’s ongoing partnership with EnergyCloud and expands on the recent rollout of a similar scheme with South Dublin County Council.
Lavinia Morris, general manager, EMEA data centre operations, Microsoft, added: “At Microsoft, we are committed to being a force for good in the communities where we operate. Through our Datacentre Community Pledge, we are proud to support this partnership with Kildare County Council and EnergyCloud, which shows how collaboration and technology can deliver meaningful local benefits. By helping to divert renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted to homes close to our operations, this initiative will make a real difference to hundreds of people. We look forward to building on its success and continuing to support communities in Kildare and beyond.”
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