Conference: Renewable Energy Summit 2012
Thursday, May 24th, 2012The annual Irish Renewable Energy Summit has taken place in Dublin, with this year’s conference focusing on developing Irish-Scottish links in renewable energy. Alongside Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd, the conference was addressed by Colin Imrie of the Scottish Government and PJ Rudden, ISLES Project Director. EirGrid was the main conference sponsor and the event was also supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with Siemens the technology partner. Other sponsors included Poyry, Solarfuel, Indaver Ireland and Gemserv. Videos Building renewable energy...[full story]
Renewable energy: Prioritising renewable energy
Thursday, August 25th, 2011An overview of how Ireland, the UK, Northern Ireland and Scotland plan to meet European renewable targets and develop a sustainable energy future. The UK’s dependency on energy imports could rise from 27 per cent in 2009 to 58 per cent in 2020. Ireland currently imports 89 per cent of its energy and Northern Ireland is 99 per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy needs. As a result there is a drive to create more indigenous renewable energy. The UK is determined to move away from its reliance on coal to offshore wind, energy from waste, biomass and anaerobic digestion...[full story]
Renewable energy: Energia: a major Irish wind generator
Thursday, August 25th, 2011An overview of energia’s market offering A member of the Viridian Group, Energia has 300MW of operational renewable electricity capacity contracted within its energy portfolio, with a further 540MW of windfarm projects currently in development across Ireland. Energia recently achieved financial close for its €72 million investment in 51 megawatts of electricity capacity in new wind farms at Crighshane and Church Hill in County Tyrone. The development forms part of Energia’s all-island renewable energy plans. 150MW will come from other new windfarms throughout Ireland, including...[full story]
Renewable energy: De-risking renewables: the investment imperative
Thursday, August 25th, 2011The IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council considers how to bridge the financial gap in renewable energy. Economies around the globe are facing a unique investment challenge as they transition over the next few decades to low-carbon economies. Leading the charge are developed economies, whose long consumption of fossil fuels has left them at the top of emissions tables and most in need of decarbonisation. Emerging economies are following swiftly behind however, and with growth rates tipping into double figures for some, the need to find cheaper, more sustainable sources of energy is charging...[full story]
Renewable energy: Meeting Europe’s 2020 targets
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Marie Donnelly, Renewable Energy Director for the European Commission, discusses energy efficiency and innovation with Owen McQuade. Europe is on track to meet, and possibly exceed, two of its three 2020 energy targets. However, more work must be done in order to become more energy efficient. Member states must collectively reduce greenhouse gases by 20 per cent, increase their share of renewables by 20 per cent and reduce energy consumption by 20 per cent from their 1990 baseline levels. Marie Donnelly contends that while the greenhouse gas target is on track and the renewable target...[full story]
Renewable energy: A confident future
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Mainstream Renewable Power’s Chief Executive for offshore, Andy Kinsella, shares an upbeat vision of the sector’s future with Owen McQuade. As Chief Executive of the world’s largest independent developer of offshore windfarms, Andy Kinsella sees a bright future for offshore wind. Three and a half years after starting up, the company has its offshore centre of excellence in London and satellite offices in Glasgow and Berlin. Mainstream had a jump-start in offshore renewables from day one, when Airtricity’s offshore team joined the company. Airtricity had designed, constructed...[full story]
Renewable energy: A powerful force: renewable energy’s role in Ireland’s green economy
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Stephen Dineen sums up the sector’s current contribution and its potential to drive future economic growth. The phrase ‘green economy’ has become commonplace in our economic lexicon. The number of Irish environmental companies and the island’s renewable energy sector have grown significantly in recent years. They are now seen as a key driver of future economic growth. A Forfás report on the green economy, published this year, stated that employment in the sector in the Republic as of November 2010 stood at 18,750 (to put it in context the ICT sector has approximately 70,000...[full story]
Renewable energy: Targets and market integration
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Renewable energy policy in Ireland has been driven by two issues in recent years: binding targets from Europe and the scale of resources in a limited size of market. Renewable energy has been driven by European policy. Ireland and other member states set 2010 electricity targets and these where later developed into all-energy targets which then led to the 20:20:20 targets in the Third Energy Package. The latest initiatives, driven by climate policy, necessitate tackling cross- cutting issues. Although much of the focus to date has been on decarbonising electricity there is significant...[full story]
Renewable energy: Ireland’s renewable future
Thursday, August 25th, 2011The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is at the forefront of the renewable energy agenda. eolas discusses its work in supporting the development of renewable energy with Head of Strategy and Innovation, Dr Brian Motherway. As Ireland continues to increase its renewable energy output, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) seems certain to remain central to progress. Established in 2002 as the national energy authority, it now works on a range of renewable and energy efficiency programmes concerning residential, commercial and industrial use. The authority receives...[full story]
Renewable energy: Managing the risk of ‘out of warranty’ turbines
Thursday, August 25th, 2011‘To extend, or not to extend (the warranty)’ that is the question? At a recent wind conference, concerns were raised that insurers will seek to impose onerous conditions, increase premiums or restrict cover on wind turbines reaching the end of their warranty period. With many wind farms due to exit the warranty period shortly, owners/operators need to consider whether to purchase extended warranty (EW) products or to rely upon their Engineering All Risk insurance to protect themselves. It is therefore critical to understand the degree of overlap between insurance and extended warranty...[full story]
