THE EMERALD ISLE’S NEW ENERGY FUTURE

Where will Ireland get its energy in 35 years’ time? The mix in 2050 will include gas-powered turbines and offshore wind-and-wave farms

Dick Ahlstrom, February 24, 2015 (The Irish Times)

“…[Ireland’s energy mix in 2050 will we deal] with the three issues that dominate energy supply today: cost; security of supply; and environmental impact...In some ways it will look very much the same, but in others it will be very different…We will have retired the Moneypoint coal-fired power station…but will likely have transferred our preferred fossil fuel to gas…[M]any of the technology and engineering challenges of wave, tidal and offshore wind are likely to have been overcome, and we will have offshore ‘farms’ where energy is harvested…We will certainly not be involved in nuclear power directly, although by 2050 we will likely have multiple undersea electricity interconnectors…[that] will deliver power arising from [British and French] nuclear facilities…We will also see major changes in the home consumption of energy, with consumers becoming electricity traders and selling it into the national grid. We will have access to new technology that will lower the cost of heating and transport…One issue that is clear is the requirement for Ireland to move its energy system towards a reduced environmental impact…At the moment we are highly dependent on importation of our energy needs via fossil fuels…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet