Renewable energy can ease Irish fuel supply problems

Ireland is currently less at risk of fuel supply disruption, but that is set to change and investment in renewable energy is one way to tackle the problem.


Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has published a report into the security of imported fuel supply, finding that the country ranked third out of the 27 EU member states on a supply/demand index.

However, it could slip to tenth place by 2020 because of a potentially higher dependency on imports from outside the EU and Norway, arising from depletion of North Sea fossil fuel reserves.

One way to combat this problem is investment in renewables. Earlier this year a National Development Plan was published, which allocates funds for direct investment and research in gas storage, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

This investment will help Irish business to make the green changes needed to make the nation’s energy supply more secure.

The SEI’s chief executive, David Taylor, said: “[Energy] demand and fuel prices continue to rise which, coupled with Ireland’s import dependency and the possible future need to import more gas from less secure sources, emphasises the criticality of increasing renewable energy supplies and carrying forward the National Energy Efficiency Plan to help mitigate growing security of supply problems.”

Ben Meggeson

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