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Surplus wind energy to heat water for fuel-poor households in Ireland

As renewable energy grows, large amounts of surplus power are going to waste – but a scheme in Ireland has found a way to let people in social housing use energy for free

By Madeleine Cuff

23 January 2023

Woman washing hands

EnergyCloud will supply free hot water to 10,000 households in the Republic of Ireland

nicoletaionescu/iStockph​oto/Getty Images

An Irish social enterprise that offers fuel-poor households free hot water thanks to surplus electricity from wind is poised for a major expansion across the Republic of Ireland and the UK this year.

EnergyCloud uses excess wind power to heat hot water tanks overnight for residents in social housing.

After a successful 10-month pilot of 40 homes in 2022, the scheme will be rolled out to 10,000 households in the Republic of Ireland this year …

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