Alternative Energy in Ireland
The Irish are currently pursuing energy independence and the further growth of their robust economy through the execution of research and development into substitute energy sources. At the time of this writing, nearly 90% of Ireland’s energy needs are met through importation— the very best of foreign product dependence in the nation’s entire history. This is a very precarious predicament to be in, and the need for developing alternative energy sources in Ireland is sharply perceived. Ireland also seeks to conserve and rejuvenate its naturally beautiful environment and to clean up its atmosphere through the execution of substitute energy supplies. The EEC has mandated a decrease in sulphuric and nitric oxide emissions for all member nations. Green energy is required to meet these objectives. Hydroelectric power has been utilized in Ireland in some areas since the 1930s and has been very efficient; all the same, more of it needs to be installed. Ireland also needs to harness the wave power of the Atlantic Ocean, which on its west coast is a potential energy supply that the country has in great store.
Ireland actually has the possible ways to become an energy exporter, in preference to a nation so heavily contingent upon energy importation. This energy potential lives in Ireland’s substantial wind, ocean wave, and biomass-producing substitute energy potentials. Ireland could become a supplier of ocean wave-produced electricity and biomass-fueled energy to continental Europe and, as they say, “make a killing”. At this moment, Ireland is most closely focused on reaching the stage where it can produce 15% of the nation’s electricity through wind farms, which the government has set as a national objective to be reached country by 2010. But universities, research institutes, and government personnel in Ireland have been saying that the increase in ocean wave energy technology would be a true force for the nation’s economy and one which would greatly help to make Ireland energy independent. A test site for developing wave ocean energy has been established in Ireland, less than two miles off the coast of An Spideal in County Galway Bay. This experimental ocean wave harnessing site is recognized as “Wavebob”. The most energetic waves globally are found off the West coast of Ireland, says Ireland’s Marine Institute CEO Dr. Peter Heffernan. The technology to harness the power of the ocean is hardly emerging and Ireland has the opportunity to become a market leader in this sector. David Taylor, CEO of the Maintainable Energy Initiative,or SEI, informs us that SEI is committed to innovation in the renewable energy sector. Wave energy is a promising new renewable energy resource which may one day make a substantial contribution to Ireland’s electricity generation mix thereby further reducing our reliance on coal and oil.
Padraig Walshe, the president of the Irish Farmers Association, tells us that with the closure of the sugar beet industry, an increasing amount of Irish land resources will become available for alternative uses, including bioenergy production. Today, renewable energy sources meet only 2% of Ireland’s total energy consumption. From a farming perspective, growing energy crops will just have a viable future if they offer an economic return on investment and labour, and if the prospect of this return is secure into the future. Currently the return from energy crops is marginal and is hampering the growth of the industry. Biomass energies have to be further researched by Ireland.
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