Sporting facilities are among the largest consumers of energy across the country and the value of that was shown yesterday in the announcement of a one year contract between Electric Ireland and Druids Glen Golf Club and resort worth €700,000.
The same company completed a multi million contract with the National Aquatic Centre in 2012 and is in the middle of a five year deal with the GAA to be its official energy partner for a period of five years.
Energia signed a €600,000 energy supply deal with the Irish Greyhound Board in 2012 and a number of other sporting bodies are either in a tender process or in negotiation with energy providers to supply the means to operate their many facilities.
The FAI and SSE Airtricity have a long term arrangement which covers energy and support for the club scene across the country.
The relationship between sport and business is often seen as being one dimensional by way of a sponsorship deal whereas that is only ever a single aspect of the multi faceted ways in which the two interact.
The contract between Electric Ireland and Druids Glen is for both gas and electricity to power the hotel’s facilities, as well as an energy efficiency audit aimed at driving cost savings.
