| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Irish utility launches $34.7 bln renewables drive
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB) on Thursday announced an investment program of 22 billion euros ($34.72 billion), half of which it plans to spend on renewable energy sources such as wind, tidal and biomass.
The company aims to halve its carbon emissions within 12 years, by which time it will be delivering one-third of its electricity from renewable generation, and to achieve a “carbon net-zero” by 2035, it said.
“This will include over 1,400 megawatts of wind generation, in addition to wave, tidal and biomass,” it said in a statement.
Ireland, where the Green Party holds the environment ministry, has launched government-backed schemes to develop wind power in a bid to boost renewable energy and cut the share of fossil fuels, of which Ireland imports nearly 90 percent.
ESB said on Thursday it would invest 4 billion euros directly in renewable energy projects and 6.5 billion euros to “facilitate” renewables by smart metering and smart networks.
“The 11 billion euros to be invested by ESB in its networks will ensure continued efficient delivery of the vital infrastructure needed to support the Irish economy,” it said.
European Union countries agreed last year to cut emissions contributing to global warming by 2020 and increase the share of wind, solar, hydro and wave power in electricity output by the same date.
Aside from cutting emissions by at least one-fifth by 2020 from 1990 levels, EU states have agreed to use 20 percent of renewable energy sources in power production and 10 percent of biofuels from crops in transport by the same date.
Ireland set itself a target of obtaining a third of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
By Andras Gergely
(Editing by James Jukwey)
27 March 2008
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=56193 ]
