Minister Rabbitte Launches Green Paper on Energy Policy

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources yesterday launched the Energy Policy Green Paper for Ireland marking the beginning of a ten week public consultation on the future shape of Ireland’s energy policy.

The Minister’s speech at the launch can be found www.dcenr.gov.ie/greenpaperspeech and the Green Paper Consultation can be accessed www.dcenr.gov.ie/greenpaper.

Ireland faces significant inter-related challenges in relation to climate change, energy sustainability, security, a...

Read more

First Island to Be Powered Solely by Wind and Water

The smallest and least known of Spain's Canary Islands, El Hierro, is making a splash by becoming the first island in the world fully energy self-sufficient through combined water and wind power.

A wind farm opening at the end of June will turn the gusts that rake the steep cliffs and green mountains of the volcanic island into electricity. Five turbines installed at the northeastern tip of El Hierro near the capital Valverde will have a total output of 11.5 megawatts -- more than enough power to meet the demand of the island's roughly 10,000 residents and its energy-hungry water desalination plants.

Although other islands a...

Read more

SEAI to grant aid ESB’s Westwave ocean feasibility project in Co Clare

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has announced funding of €1.3m for environmental and feasibility studies at ESB’s Westwave project which aims to deploy five wave energy devices off the coast of County Clare by 2018. The announcement brings Ireland another step closer to capturing our great ocean energy resource for electricity generation. In time, this will further reduce our reliance on costly fossil fuel imports, according to Dr Brian Motherway, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

SEAI has been working closely with ESB for the past three years on the ESB Westwave project which represents one of th...

Read more

Deal for 2,300 turbines to supply UK energy by 2020 called off

A negotiated agreement to facilitate green energy exports from the midlands by a 2020 EU timeframe has not been reached, Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte has said, meaning the midlands energy export project will not proceed.

The deal had envisaged 2,300 wind turbines being built across the midlands between now and 2020 to supply 5,000 megawatts to the British market.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan responded to the announcement saying Read more