Wednesday, 29 October 2025
EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative: Surplus Renewable Energy Providing Free Hot Water to Older People in Cork A pioneering Cork-based project inspired by the late business leader John Mullins is using surplus renewable energy to provide free hot water to older people across Cork city. The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative, a collaboration between Cork City Council, Cork […]
A pioneering Cork-based project inspired by the late business leader John Mullins is using surplus renewable energy to provide free hot water to older people across Cork city.
The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative, a collaboration between Cork City Council, Cork City Age Friendly, and the charity EnergyCloud Ireland, recently won the Environment category at the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.
The project was the brainchild of the late John Mullins, former Chief Executive of Bord Gáis, businessman, and renewable energy entrepreneur.
Mr Mullins, who passed away suddenly in April 2025, had served as chairman of EnergyCloud Ireland, a charity supported by utility providers and wind energy companies. The charity’s mission is to redirect surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise go to waste, to households at risk of fuel poverty.
As an Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork for more than a decade, Mr Mullins recognised that Cork City Council’s Age Friendly network could be an ideal platform for promoting the work of EnergyCloud Ireland and reaching older people who would benefit most from the initiative.
Launched as a pilot project in early 2025, the EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative was open on a first-come, first-served basis through Cork’s Age Friendly Forum.
The pilot involved fitting easy-to-use smart Climote devices to the immersion tanks in 40 privately-owned and local authority homes occupied by people aged over 65. These devices allow surplus renewable electricity, mainly from wind farms, to automatically power immersion heaters overnight, providing participants with free tanks of hot water.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Fergal Dennehy, the Lord Mayor of Cork City, said the initiative has not only helped older residents save on energy costs but also empowered them to engage with new technology.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Cork City Council CEO Valerie O’Sullivan praised the project as a model of cross-departmental collaboration with tangible benefits for participants.
“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.”
EnergyCloud CEO Alan Wyley described the national award as an “enormous honour” and a testament to John Mullins’ lasting impact.
“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 65s in privately-owned and social homes in Cork, delivering significant social and environmental impact.”
Project name: EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative
Partners: Cork City Council, Cork City Age Friendly, and EnergyCloud Ireland
Inspiration: The late John Mullins, renewable energy entrepreneur and former Bord Gáis CEO
Pilot launch: Early 2025
Participants: 40 older people (65+) in Cork city
Technology used: Smart ‘Climote’ devices on immersion tanks
Energy source: Surplus renewable electricity from wind farms
Award: Winner of the National Age Friendly Environment Award 2025
The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative demonstrates how innovative thinking and collaboration can transform renewable energy into a tool for social good, creating warmer homes, lower costs, and a lasting legacy for one of Cork’s most respected business leaders.
Following the success of the pilot, Cork City Council and EnergyCloud Ireland are exploring opportunities to expand the EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative beyond its initial 40 participating homes. The project’s early results have demonstrated both environmental and social benefits, reducing energy waste while helping older residents save on energy costs.
There is strong interest in assessing how similar schemes could be introduced in other Irish cities and towns, particularly in areas where older populations face energy affordability challenges. As renewable generation continues to grow in Ireland, initiatives like this could become a model for how communities make practical use of surplus green energy for social good.
EnergyCloud Ireland also plans to continue working closely with local authorities, wind energy partners, and utility companies to identify new ways of connecting surplus renewable power directly to households that can benefit most from it.
The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative stands as a powerful example of how innovation, collaboration, and community spirit can come together to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. By using surplus renewable energy to provide free hot water to older residents, the project delivers on multiple fronts — supporting sustainability, promoting inclusion, and improving quality of life.
It is also a lasting tribute to the late John Mullins, whose vision and leadership laid the groundwork for a more compassionate and sustainable approach to energy use. As Cork celebrates national recognition for this pioneering initiative, his legacy continues to inspire efforts that ensure renewable energy serves not just the environment, but the people who need it most.
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