Some progress made on major Midlands renewable energy research project
The Nenagh Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Energy (SECOE-Ireland) is a major multi-million euro regeneration project being developed at Martyr's Road in Nenagh.
COUNCILLOR Seamus Morris told the October meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that it was "great to see some progress being made" with the proposed Centre of Excellence in Nenagh Town.
Rosemary Joyce, Senior Executive Officer, remarked that progress has been made but the contracts haven't yet been signed.
The meeting was told that “Agreement has been reached with the property owners. Draft contracts have been reviewed by our solicitors and these are currently being finalised. These contracts will be subject to Part 8 planning being secured."
The meeting was also told that the Design Team is progressing the design and planning now that the site layout has been agreed. "An on-site meeting with the Design Team took place in August and a pre-planning meeting has been held with the planners. Further internal meetings have been held to consider various aspects of the design process. It is aimed to submit planning through the Part 8 process in Q4 2026/Q1 2027.”
The Nenagh Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Energy (SECOE-Ireland) is a major multi-million euro regeneration project being developed at Martyr's Road in Nenagh. Designed to serve as Ireland's "first dedicated hub for sustainable energy innovation, research, and training," the initiative anchors the wider Martyr’s Road Regeneration Quarter redevelopment.
The project represents a total capital investment of €12.7 million. The bulk of this funding is secured through a €9.525 million allocation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
Led by Tipperary County Council as the lead partner, a design team spearheaded by Henry J Lyons Architects was formally signed to execute the plans.
Once fully operational, SECOE-Ireland is designed to "act as a collaborative ecosystem bringing together public agencies, education providers, and community entities." Core focus areas include: 1) Low-Carbon Innovation: Providing a dedicated space for clean energy research and technological testing. 2) Education & Training: Partnering with institutions like the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) to deliver specialised green skill courses and training programs. 3) Social Enterprise Incubation: Nurturing startup businesses focused on community-led power and climate initiatives. 4) Public Realm Upgrades: Enhancing the physical town infrastructure and community spaces surrounding the Martyr's Road site.