Energia is committed to promoting education in the areas of energy and sustainability. Our efforts and goals align accordingly with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and importantly they align with Ireland's Climate Action Plan and Northern Ireland's Green Growth Strategy.
Both strategies emphasise the importance of education amongst our youth, for continued success in being able to meet targets and further develop climate action projects into the future.
Specifically in relation to Ireland's National Climate Action Plan, section 8 on Citizen Engagement and 8.3 Measures to Deliver Target are particularly relevant.
8.3.1 Climate Literacy
Climate literacy involves empowering people to understand sometimes complex information about the climate. Improvements in climate literacy can best be achieved through the promotion of evidencebased communications and through the national education system. Improving climate literacy will enhance our capacity to make small changes in our daily lives, to engage with climate action at a local level, and to participate at national level in the co-design of policy.
Education
The NDCA will work to support the development and delivery of education modules which build climate literacy into the national education system at primary and secondary levels, and in adult education programmes with our partners in the Department of Education, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
Energia Group and Midlands Science
Energia Group collaborated with Midlands Science and Laois County Council to deliver science outreach focused on climate action to secondary and primary schools in Portlaoise. The town of Portlaoise was designated as Ireland’s First Low Carbon Town in 2021 and this special outreach education programme, was designed to create awareness of climate change science and action. Over 600 students and teachers took part in the workshops which explored the science of climate change and actions we can take to mitigate climate change. Evaluation after the workshops showed that 75% of participants felt they could do something in their own lives about climate change and this building of personal responsibility and agency is extremely important in addressing the emerging issue of climate anxiety
Educational Outreach
Energia Group is committed to improving education and awareness on climate action including renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Group regularly hosts educational tours of its facilities and in FY22 was delighted to host students from Queen’s University Belfast for an educational tour of Long Mountain Wind Farm in Antrim. The impressive 27.6 MW wind farm, operational since 2017 comprises 12 wind turbines and generates enough renewable energy to power 15,000 homes. For many of the students it was their first time visiting an operational wind farm. Our team of experts shared their experience in developing a wind farm project from planning through to construction and operation as well as their experience developing a green hydrogen production facility at the site.
South East Partners
Energia Group actively sponsor local grassroots groups, events and organisations in parts of Ireland to help promote citizen engagement and energy educational awareness. We've recently partnered with Calmast, Stem at Sea – Sail training, Wexford Opera, Waterford Chambers and Beat the Ferryman Swim.
