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DUBLIN, Ireland, 2004-10-20 (Refocus Weekly) The use of wind energy and other renewables in Ireland has accelerated rapidly since 2000, but it is still below the average of other countries in the European Union.
While the average for the EU-15 countries is 5.6%, only 1.9% of Ireland's total energy supply was met by renewables 2002, says Sustainable Energy Ireland in the report, ‘Renewable Energy in Ireland - Trends & Issues 1990-2002.’ For electricity, renewables contributed 5.3% of Ireland's power in 2002, up from 4.9 % in 1990. The level dropped to 4% in 2003 as a result of low hydro output due to low rainfall.
During the 12 year period, average growth of energy consumption in Ireland was 3.8% a year, with oil supplying 56% of primary energy, natural gas 23%, coal 13% and peat providing 6%.
The 1.9% of primary energy from renewables in 2002 compares with 1.8% in 1990, and the EU White Paper target is to achieve a 12% contribution across the continent from renewables by 2010. In absolute terms, primary energy for renewables grew from 168 ktoe in 1990 by 71% (4.9% per annum) to 288 ktoe in 2002. There was a 10% increase in 2002 compared with 2001.
Renewables provided 3.2% of Ireland’s thermal energy in 2002 compared with 2.6% in 1990 due to an increase in solid biomass consumption compared with lower growth rates in overall thermal energy consumption.
The amount of CO2 emissions avoided by renewables was 1.5 megatonne in 2002, compared with 1.0 Mt in 1990.
“Ireland’s trend in the contribution of renewable energy to TPER and electrical consumption is quite low compared to many other industrialised counties and in particular the EU - 15 average,” it concludes. “The trends are increasing slightly and further increases are anticipated as additional wind power comes online.”
Based on the amount of additional capacity and current status of grid connection agreements, it “appears likely” that the green paper target of 500 MW will be met by two years later than the target of 2007. Based on current deployment rates, it is anticipated that the share from renewables of gross electricity consumption will reach a maximum of 6% to 7% next year.
Biomass remains the most significant renewable energy resource in Ireland, accounting for 61% of primary energy for renewables in 2002. Total installed capacity of hydropower was 240 MW, an increase of 6.2 MW over 1990 but the contribution from hydro to total electricity consumption has dropped from 4.9% to 2.2% over the period.
There are 37 windfarms operating in Ireland, with total installed capacity of 229 MW (including 25 MW offshore) and another 259 MW under construction. The output from windfarms in 2003 was 454 GWh, up 17% over 2002, and the contribution from wind to gross electricity consumption has risen from 0% to 1.5% over the period.
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