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Dublin, Ireland, July 26, 2006 (Refocus Weekly) Green power in Ireland contributed 6.8% of the country’s electricity in 2005, up from 5.2% in 2004.
The latest data from Sustainable Energy Ireland show the contribution from renewables to gross electricity consumption increased last year, due largely to a 70% increase in electricity from wind turbines. The data confirm a trend which has seen the contribution of wind energy grow rapidly since 2004.
On June 19, natural resources minister Noel Dempsey increased Ireland’s target for green power to 15% by 2010, up from the previous target of 13.2%. In 2004, the installed capacity of windfarms was 339 MW which had increased by 46% to 496 MW by the end of 2005.
A further increase to 736 MW is expected by the end of this year, and the installed capacity of wind turbines in Ireland will have more than doubled by the end of 2006 compared with the end of 2004.
“The increased contribution from wind is particularly welcome,” says David Taylor of SEI. “With demand for energy in Ireland rising in recent years, we have witnessed an increase in energy related CO2 emissions.”
“However, each extra megawatt of wind capacity installed in Ireland contributes to security of supply on the island of Ireland and avoids, on average, the release of 2,008 tonnes of CO2 per annum helping to combat the effects of climate change,” he explains. “This underlines the economic and environmental importance of renewable energy and the need to ensure that its deployment continues to grow to meet our growing energy requirements and international obligations.”
“It also demonstrates that through the concerted action of all market players, the targets set by the minister are realistic and achievable,” he adds.
Sustainable Energy Ireland is the statutory authority charged with promoting the development of sustainable energy. It is funded by the Irish government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, with programs partly financed by the European Union.
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