From Wind to Free Hot Water: Pioneering Cork Energy Project Wins a National Age Friendly Award

28/10/2025

A project that uses surplus renewable energy to provide free hot water to older people in Cork city has won a national award.

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative – a collaboration between Cork City Council, Cork City Age Friendly, and EnergyCloud Ireland, a charity supported by Irish utility providers and wind energy companies which uses innovative solutions to divert renewable energy to Irish homes at risk of fuel poverty – won the environment category section of the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.

The novel project was brainchild of the late John Mullins, the former chief executive of Bord Gáis, businessman and renewable energy entrepreneur, who served as the Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork for over a decade and latterly as chair of EnergyCloud Ireland, until his sudden death in April 2025.

EnergyCloud Ireland estimates that more than €450m of renewable energy was wasted in Ireland in 2024 alone.

Mr Mullins identified that Cork City Council's Age Friendly network would be an excellent platform for promoting the work of EnergyCloud Ireland.

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative was launched as a pilot project earlier this year.

It was its first project in privately owned homes in Cork City, and its first project aimed at over 65s.

It was open on a ‘first-come first-served’ basis through Cork’s Age Friendly Forum and involved easy-to-use smart Climote devices being fitted to the immersion tanks in the private or local authority homes of 40 older people to redirect surplus renewable energy from wind farms to power the immersion heater overnight. 

It fostered a sense of empowerment amongst older people as they learned to manage the technology and saw the real benefits of the pilot project.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, praised all those involved in the initiative.

“This award is also a fitting legacy to the late John Mullins, whose vision, energy, and unwavering commitment to making Cork a more sustainable and inclusive city continue to inspire us,” he said.

“John’s belief that innovation should serve people — particularly our older citizens — lies at the heart of this initiative.

“His leadership and partnership with Cork City Council helped turn a simple yet powerful idea into a project that is now making a real difference in people’s lives.

“It also stands as a tribute to our incredible Age Friendly team, who work tirelessly to support older people across Cork.

“Their dedication, compassion, and creativity ensure that projects like this one not only meet practical needs but also build confidence, connection, and community among our older residents.

“This national recognition reflects their outstanding work and the positive impact they continue to have every day. This is an achievement that we can all be proud of.”

Valerie O’Sullivan, the Chief Executive of Cork City Council, said she was delighted that the project has been recognised at a national level. 

“An impactful environmental pilot targeted at our growing older population, this pilot allowed a number of older people in Cork to engage with new technologies to make savings on their energy costs,” she said. 

“It is a great example of cross directorate work in action, with staff across the community, housing and environment directorates in Cork City Council working in tandem with EnergyCloud Ireland to deliver on this great initiative which has real and lasting benefits for the older people of the city who engaged with it.”

Alan Wyley, the chief executive officer of EnergyCloud, also hailed the win.

“It is an enormous honour to win the National Age Friendly Environment Award for this project which was co-funded by Amazon, Cork City Council and delivered with Age Friendly Ireland,” he said.

“This project was the brainchild of our late chair John Mullins, allowing EnergyCloud to use surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise be wasted, to deliver free tanks of hot water to over 65's in privately owned and social homes in Cork, delivering significant social and environmental impact.” 

While the project’s primary goal was to reduce energy costs for older residents living in either private or and local authority housing, it also promoted carbon-neutral solutions that align with Ireland’s national sustainability objectives.

It addressed energy poverty among older residents in Cork city and has delivered tangible economic and environmental benefits for participants.

The partnership approach demonstrates how local government, social enterprises, and community organisations can work together to create innovative solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.