What's Happening in the Hub?

Deirdre de Bhailís

Perhaps some of you have noticed ESB

Networks electric

cars driving around the Peninsula in recent days? Earlier this week 15 Corca Dhuibhne residents drove away in the newest model EVs (electric vehicles) and will get to trial them for the next twelve months. The models are the Hyundai Kona and the Nissan Leaf. Both have ranges in and around 400km which is a considerable improvement on older models. The trial will help us understand the impact of EV charging on the electricity network and how the use of smart EV charging technologies can minimise those impacts. Following a local campaign, 10 new EV Ambassadors from hundreds of applications were selected for the trial and the existing 5 project ambassadors also received an EV. 2 additional cars will be made available, on a managed basis, to the wider community so they can also enjoy the electric motoring experience. I have the pleasure of being one of the trial participants and am really looking forward to learning more about the EV and how the way I use it can have a real impact on energy use and emissions. For example, smart chargers have been installed in all of the trial participant homes. This means we can control the chargers from a smartphone app and schedule the times that we charge the cars. If I charge at peak times when electricity demand is high then this will put the network under pressure and the energy drawn will likely be generated from fossil fuels. However, if I schedule charging for off-peak times (such as overnight) then the energy drawn is much more likely to be from renewable sources and I can avail of the benefit of reduced night rate tariffs once I have a day/night meter. One other thing I learned on my first trip was the clever way the car captures energy from braking, decelerating and going downhill and uses it to charge up the battery. You can generate up to an extra 1km from simply coming to a stop at a roundabout - free energy for those drivers who can perfect their driving habits! I’m sure we’ll hear lots more tips and insights from all of the other participants as we go through this trial and we’re looking forward to sharing them with everyone. We’re delighted to be hosting a 12-week online film workshop with fab facilitator Ciara Barret - Irish Language Cinema: Culture & Practice. This online course provides an introduction to Irish-language film studies and filmmaking for adults interested in exploring how the Irish language can be utilized via screen media towards a broadening of Irish cultural output – particularly from rural and Gaeltacht areas. Workshops will run bi-weekly on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-6pm, starting on Thursday, 11th February and ending on Thursday, 6th May. Cost is €150 for the full course. This workshop is partially funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, which has generously subsidized a number of spaces on the course. These free spaces are open to professional Gaeltacht artists working through the medium of the Irish language. Deadline to apply for free spaces is Thursday 8th Feb. For more info and to book your place go to www. dinglehub.com Táimid an-shásta go mbeidh ceardlanna scannánaíochta 12 seachtaine á sholáthar againn le áisitheoir iontach Ciara Barrett - Tionscal na Scanánnaíochta Trí Ghaeilge : Cultúr agus Cleachtas. Tugann an cúrsa seo, atá á sholáthar ar líne, eolas ar fáil do dhaoine fásta go bhfuil suim acu i staidéar a dhéanamh i réimse na scannánaíochta trí mheán na Gaeilge agus ar chonas is féidir úsáid a bhaint as an nGaeilge ar scáileáin mar mheán chun cur le líon na dtáirgí cultúrtha trí Ghaeilge– go háirithe ó cheantair tuaithe agus Gaeltachta. Beidh na ceardlanna ar líne agus beidh siad ar siúl gach Luan agus Déardaoin óna 3i.n. go 6i.n., ag tosú ar an 11ú Feabhra agus ag teacht chun críche ar an 6ú Bealtaine. Costas iomlán - €150. Tá na ceardlanna seo ó pháirt mhaoiniú ag Ealaín na Gaeltacht agus urraíocht fhlaithiúil á chur ar fáil ag an eagraíocht sin do roinnt des na spásanna ar an gcúrsa. Tá na spásanna saor in aisce seo ar fáil do ealaíontóirí proifisiúnta atá lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht agus a fheidhmíonn trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tuilleadh eolais ar www.dinglehub.com Contact: Deirdre de Bhailís Dingle Creativity and Innovation Hub Tel.: 066 9150140 Email: info@dinglehub.com Web: www.dinglehub.com