Five year green business strategy for Ireland

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has unveiled a five-year plan to transform the country into a society based on sustainability.


The plans include new energy structures, technologies and practices combining to create a vision of making Ireland a recognised global leader in sustainable energy.

Energy minister, Eamon Ryan announced the move last week saying sustainable energy practices are ‘already delivering significant savings’ to the Irish economy.

And Mr Ryan claims that over the course of SEAI’s five-year strategy, new savings worth ‘6billion euros’ could be generated by sustainable energy actions, at the same time supporting 5000 – 10,000 jobs every year.

Mr Ryan said: “It’s green, innovative, knowledge-based and has the potential to set Ireland apart as a leading low carbon economy in the world.

“Above all it is sustainable. The new economy will bring savings – the EUR6 billion we can save over the lifetime of this strategy is the equivalent of our annual fossil fuel bill.

“It will bring investment and most importantly jobs for our people, SEAI’s mission for the future is truly transformational.”

SEAI chief executive, professor Owen Lewis, said: “In the lifetime of this strategy we will have made substantial further gains in renewable electricity, in upgrading the efficiency of buildings, in improving energy efficiency in business.

“We also want to see the start of strong export-led growth in sustainable energy products and services.

“While the strategy is focused on the future, the delivery of it is very much based in action now.

“Sustainable energy actions over the course of the next five years will deliver total savings worth 6billion euros over their lifetime and at the same time support five to ten thousand jobs every year.”

To download the report click here.

Luke Walsh

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