Alternative Energy In Ireland - How The Irish Use Alternative Sources Of Energy

Ireland is currently into serious energy development research in an effort to free itself from reliance on imported energy sources. Over the years, imported energy sources have fueled the country's growing economy. The country’s dependence on imported energy currently stands at nearly 90 per cent of total energy demand. It is considered as the single biggest import item in the country's entire history. This precarious situation puts Ireland's long-term development strategy under threat. The country's need for alternative energy sources has never been sharper. It does not only need to develop those sources, it also needs to protect its environment and check its worsening air pollution caused by petroleum-powered energy generation.

With the European Union mandate seeking cuts in nitric oxide and sulfuric emissions from its member countries, green or environment-friendly energy is seen as the ultimate response to all of Ireland's development needs. Hydroelectric power has been proven effective and safe since the 1930s when the country first tried harnessing it. Development more of this kind of energy source is however needed to fully meet the growing demand. With its strategic location on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland also stands to benefit from wave-generated energy.

Interestingly, Ireland has the capacity to become an energy-exporting nation rather than being dependent on imported energy products. Truly, because of its abundant ocean waves, wind and biomass-producing alternative energy sources, Ireland can utilize these substantial and natural energy resources to become a major supplier energy generated from these alternative sources. It is a potential income-earning industry for the country in the future. For now, the nation may need to focus on its target of producing 15 per cent of the country’s total demand for electricity using the wind farms by 2010. But studies coming from the academe, research institutes and government agencies that support harnessing of ocean wave as alternative energy source, the nation is in a position to jumpstart its twin goals of accelerating economic growth and energy independence.

Ireland has tested its site for ocean wave energy technology in an area near the coast off County Galway Bay. Tagged as "Wavebob", the experimental site for ocean wave energy generation produces the greatest mass of power waves in the world, according to Dr. Peter Heffernan, Ireland’s Marine Institute Chief Executive Officer. With the right and improved technology to develop the power of the ocean, the nation stands to gain the title as the top producer of ocean wave generated energy.

David Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy Initiative has likewise committed SEI’s interest in the development of new technologies for the renewable energy sector. The huge potential of ocean wave energy can be harnessed to considerably lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Irish Farmers’ Association President Padraig Walshe, on the other hand, said that with the shutting down of the sugar beet industry, there is an expected rise of available Irish crop land for other uses like bio-energy production. Currently, the nation’s renewable energy production only accounts for not more than 2 per cent of its entire energy consumption. From the farming sector’s view, growing energy crops can only be sustained if it can guarantee economic returns on investment and labour at a sustainable and secure level. As of now, it can be noted that the return from energy crops remains marginal, thus preventing the industry from fully expanding. It is thus imperative for Ireland to do more research to address these challenges.