IN-PLAN Project Provides Comprehensive Forward Guidance for Tipperary’s Renewable Energy Strategy

Tipperary North Riding, Ireland Feb 4, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – Tipperary County Council (TCC) and the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) have received technical support through the EU-funded IN-PLAN programme, delivered in collaboration with the Tipperary Energy Agency (TEA). This support provides a detailed set of recommendations to guide future revisions of Tipperary’s Renewable Energy Strategy (RES).

The forward guidance aligns the RES with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2025, the EU Renewable Energy Directive and the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. It covers updates to renewable targets, integration of energy considerations into housing, land use, transport and industry planning, expansion of grid capacity, adoption of emerging technologies and support for community-led projects. New solutions such as green hydrogen, agrivoltaics and floating solar are included, along with measures to strengthen energy resilience.

Last updated in 2016, Tipperary’s RES which will be revised at the end of 2028, requires revision to reflect technological advances, updated climate policies and new investment opportunities. The IN-PLAN guidance identifies six priority areas:

• Ambitious and aligned targets for renewable electricity, heating and transport to 2030 and 2050.
• Integrated planning across sectors to connect energy policy with housing, land use and transport strategies.
• Infrastructure readiness, including grid expansion, Renewable Energy Zones and large-scale storage.
• Diversification and innovation with emerging and proven renewable technologies.
• Community leadership in renewable development with transparent benefit-sharing.
• Energy resilience through microgrids, distributed storage and inter-county links.

“This forward guidance is about more than meeting targets. It is about positioning Tipperary to lead by example, embrace innovation and deliver an energy system that works for both people and the planet,” said a member of the IN-PLAN project team.

The document also calls for regular RES reviews every two to three years to ensure alignment with technological, policy and market developments.

About IN-PLAN
IN-PLAN (Integrated Planning for Climate, Mobility and Energy) is a European Union-supported initiative that works with local and regional authorities to embed long-term climate and energy goals into spatial planning. The programme supports practical, finance-ready and community-supported actions that advance decarbonisation, climate resilience and sustainable development.