InBus_Win09_56-96:InBusiness 1-61 11/12/2009 10:44 Page 56
Fuelling the
FUTURE
++++++++++++
As a challenging year comes
to a close, the energy sector
in Ireland is looking ahead to
a sustainable, renewable and
successful 2010, writes
Robert Hogan.
++++++++++++
OVER 90 PERCENT of Ireland’s energy needs
“THIS WORK IS
are currently met through the importation of
fossil fuels – an unenviable position for a NECESSARY IF
developed country to be in. While efforts are
IRELAND IS TO
being made to make the island less dependent
on overseas energy markets – which further COMPETE
highlights the need to get gas ashore in Mayo
INTERNATIONALLY FOR
from this will amount to €4bn and will create a
as quickly as possible – it is plainly obvious that transmission grid that will manage the expected
the need to redress the balance is great. The JOBS, EXPORT increases in demand, secure our electricity
Government has acknowledged as much and in
RENEWABLES, AND
supply and create a business environment that
response, has launched a strategy which will promotes competition and downward pressure
enable us to meet 40 per cent of our energy CONTRIBUTE TO THE on energy prices. This work is necessary if
needs by 2020. One of the key areas the
WORK OF DEALING WITH
Ireland is to compete internationally for
Government hopes to attain this is through the jobs, export renewables, and contribute to the
implementation of alternative energy supplies. CLIMATE CHANGE.” work of dealing with climate change.
One source of energy being considered is
– Bernie Gray
hydroelectric power, which has been used in CLIMATE CHANGE
some forms in Ireland since the 1930s and has While improving the energy services available in
proven to be moderately effective. However, for Ireland and developing our own sources are
the full benefits to be reaped, it must be used paramount concerns going forward, it is also
more widely. There is also great potential for important not to lose sight of our responsibilities
wave-generated power of the west coast of with regards to climate change.
the country. “The climate change agenda is not going to
According to Bernie Gray, Chairperson of go away,” says Torben Andersen, Executive
EirGrid, there is a huge amount of exploitable Director and CEO Onshore of Mainstream
renewable resources available to us. “The all- Renewable Power. “We have to cut down on
island energy study identified the areas to look our carbon emissions – it’s a global
at, and this informed EirGrid’s Grid25 strategy, phenomenon that we just have to deal with. If
which will, amongst other initiatives, put in place you shy away from it, it will come back to haunt
the infrastructure necessary to enable Ireland to you in several different ways. Just look at the
reach our 2020 targets. This will consist of recent flooding we witnessed throughout the
approximately 1,150km of new power lines as country! It is not necessarily directly linked to
well as upgrades to approximately 2,300km of climate change in Ireland, but that is the kind of
existing power lines. The total spend resulting
Bernie Gray, Chairperson, Eirgrid.
thing that is happening in other places,
56 InBusiness Winter 09
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