Published on: June 30, 2025
On 18 to 19 June 2025, South East Energy Agency (SEEA) represented Ireland at the 4th Interregional Project Event of the Repower Industries Project, hosted by Biržai District Municipality in Lithuania. The two-day exchange focused on renewable energy, sustainable policy, and innovative industrial decarbonisation strategies, bringing together EU partners for peer learning and site visits.
A standout moment came from Paddy Phelan, CEO of South East Energy Agency, who delivered a compelling presentation on Ireland’s clean energy transition, with a spotlight on the potential of long-duration energy storage and clean energy zones in the South East.
Mr. Phelan’s presentation, titled ‘Unlocking Clean Energy Industrial Hubs’, explored how thermal and battery storage technologies can support Ireland’s most energy-intensive sectors, particularly food processing, manufacturing, and data centres. He made the case for stronger policy support for these technologies, highlighting key national barriers, such as the lack of clear policy for large energy users, limited flexibility in feedstock regulation, and the exclusion of SMEs from current energy frameworks.
At the heart of his case study was the proposed Belview Energy Centre in County Kilkenny; a visionary plan for a 25–30MW battery storage facility designed to power a future green industrial park. The centre would offer 90–95% clean power sourced from local renewables, including nearby wind farms and future offshore developments like the Tonn Nua wind farm. Mr. Phelan stressed the potential of Belview to act as a model for zero-carbon industrial ecosystems in Ireland.
He called for targeted government support, including:
- Capital grants for thermal storage pilot projects.
- Enhanced R&D funding for SME storage innovation.
- Regulatory incentives for grid flexibility and long-duration storage.
- Stronger coordination between national agencies (SEAI, IDA, Enterprise Ireland) and local energy leaders like SEEA.
The event also featured valuable peer learning opportunities, such as site visits to a brewery and bakery using solar thermal and biomass systems, as well as a cultural tour of Biržai Castle.
On day two, the focus shifted to policy review and market analysis, with cross-sector discussions on overcoming climate transition bottlenecks in agriculture and small industry.
For Ireland, the conference highlighted the growing European interest in regional clean energy zones and showed how Irish innovation particularly in the South East is being recognised as a leading example of climate leadership from the ground up.
About Repower Industries:
The Repower Industries Project, funded by Interreg Europe with co-funding from the European Union, supports industrial decarbonisation through renewable energy policy exchange. Ireland’s participation, led by SEEA, continues to shape clean energy dialogue across Europe. To learn more about the project, visit: https://southeastenergy.ie/eu-projects/repower-industries/
