There is an urgent need to develop renewable, clean energy that will help to bring down bills, create jobs and boost rural and coastal economies, according to Wind Energy Ireland.
The Irish wind energy industry has today (Thursday, November 14) launched its general election manifesto, encouraging candidates “to lead the way in supporting Ireland’s energy revolution and achieving energy independence”.
The document, entitled Building Irish Energy Independence, outlines Wind Energy Ireland’s priorities for the next Dáil and the next government.
Wind Energy Ireland
Noel Cunniffe, chief executive of Wind Energy Ireland said that wind power is the cheapest source of renewable energy.
“We believe that the general election provides an opportunity for candidates to be ambitious in their vision for Ireland’s energy future and to stand up for Irish electricity consumers.
“If government, industry and communities work closely together, we can secure our own supply of electricity produced here in Ireland and deliver more affordable, clean energy for Irish families,” he said.
Cunniffe said that the planning system for renewable energy is “broken” and the next government should prioritise implementing the new Planning and Development Act.
He said that Ireland needs a “robust, workable, system” that can deliver the volume of projects needed to achieve energy independence.
This would include speeding-up the planning process for wind energy projects by ensuring An Bord Pleanála can make decisions in line with the mandatory timelines set out in the new legislation.
Wind Energy Ireland has outlined the following priorities for the general election:
- Create and resource a planning system that can build a zero-carbon society for Ireland;
- Prioritise the development of Ireland’s electricity infrastructure to support the electrification and decarbonisation of our energy system;
- Accelerate onshore wind energy deployment;
- Plan for the long-term potential of offshore wind energy;
- Support skills development to facilitate the workforce and development needs of Ireland’s renewable energy industry;
- Drive Ireland’s vision for the deployment of renewable energy post 2030.
Noel Cunniffe said that the new Dáil “must ensure that the foundations are in place not only to help us meet our climate targets, but to help develop a cleaner and more secure future for our families and our communities across Ireland”.
“That means ensuring the planning system, at every level, has the resources and expertise needed to process the increasing volume of renewable energy applications entering the system.
“Our first new offshore wind energy projects in a generation have entered the planning system this year.
“They need to be supported at every step and be given the opportunity to engage with the relevant State agencies to give them the best possible chance of getting planning permission,” he said.
“It is also important that our elected representatives actively ensure that planning policy at national and local levels are aligned to deliver the amount of onshore renewable energy needed by Irish consumers to cut their bills and our carbon emissions,” he added.
Energy loss
Wind Energy Ireland said that 2024 is on track to be the worst year on record for the amount of wind energy lost “because the electricity grid is simply not strong enough”.
Over the first nine months of the year 14% of wind energy production was lost because of challenges with the transmission network.
“Every year we are losing more and more of Ireland’s cheapest renewable electricity because our existing grid is simply not strong enough to carry all the renewable electricity that our wind farms produce.
“It is 2024, long past time we had an electricity grid fit for the 21st century.
“Our TDs – whether in government or in opposition, have a responsibility to actively campaign for a stronger electricity grid,” Cunniffe said.
He said that the last government set 2030 targets and it will be up to those next elected to identify plans and targets for the next decade.
“Ireland can, and will, be energy independent. The next Oireachtas must determine when this happens,” he said.