Recode Report 2025

The Recode project has published its interim report, which includes findings from stakeholder workshops exploring the enablers and barriers to REC and co-owned projects in Ireland. The report includes examples of international co-owned projects and key policy issues in Ireland.

The workshops explore the key motivations to engage in community renewables- which include local empowerment and participation in collective ethical action. The enablers of community renewables include supportive policy, positive local administrations and high local knowledge. The barriers to RECs include institutional misalignment and policy inertia; structural constraints; and sociocultural roadblocks.

In terms of co-ownership, the power dynamic between the industrial partner and the community is complicated and requires strong trust-building and protections for the community partner in particular. Many participants note strategic advantages to co-ownership, however significant barriers hinder their development.

The report makes a number of recommendations to support co-ownership and community renewables in general. 

The Recode team would like to thank all of the participants who took part in our workshops.

The report can be downloaded here.

Wind Energy Science Conference 2025

Dr. Noreen Brennan from the University of Galway presented findings from the Recode project at the annual Wind Energy Science Conference in Nantes. The mini symposium, chaired by John Aston, explored social science for collaborative wind energy planning and participation.  The Recode presentation can be downloaded here.

IWFA Annual Conference 2024

Dr. Noreen Brennan from the University of Galway presented findings from the Recode project at the annual conference of the Irish Wind Farmers Association. The conference presented interesting findings and issues for small-scale wind energy in particular, including planning, financing and policy. The final discussion panel of the day presented barriers to community and SME wind energy in Ireland and the solutions required to address them.

The Recode presentation can be downloaded here.