Austria an inspiration for energy solutions

SOARING oil prices, environmental concerns and fears about the security of supplies from politically volatile regions such as the Middle East has fuelled increased interest in renewable energy in Ireland.

This interest by business people, private householders and energy system providers was reflected at the World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Upper Austria, when executives from 24 Irish companies were among visitors from 60 countries.

A growing number of Irish operators in the sector are increasingly looking to Austria for solutions to reduce energy costs across industry, housing and other sectors.

Austria is a world leader in the development of technologies for energy saving, which it exports to many countries. In a country where half of the landscape is covered by forestry, much of the focus is on biomass.

More than 800 rural communities have developed local district heating grids, with farmers supplying wood from their forests, and chip production plants creating further incomes and jobs.

The fact-finding visit by the Irish, who were shown biomass systems, solar energy projects and recycling initiatives, was organised by the Austrian Trade Commission in Dublin, in association with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

Austrian technology is already being used in a number of renewable energy projects in Ireland including the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa at Clonakilty, Co Cork. The hotel had traditionally used gas for heating.

But, with the growing concerns over the security of supply in the future and rising costs, it invested over €300,000 in a new renewable energy heating system.

This involved installing a combination system of solar panels, wood pellet boiler and heat recovery systems that will halve the hotel’s annual fuel bill of €100,000 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 500 tonnes.

Renewable Energy Management Services Ltd, a joint venture of the SWS Group and the Austrian based Conness Gmbh, designed and installed the new system.

Dr Christian Rakos, of the Austrian Wood Pellet Association, has been engaged with many of those involved in starting wood heating enterprises and projects in Ireland.

He said there are further opportunities for Irish firms to partner with Austrian wood heating technologies and service companies.

“What it needs is a network of companies selling and installing pellet stoves and boilers,” he said.

Dr Rakos predicted that there will be a skyrocketing demand for these units as oil prices go through the roof and the first oil shortages are felt.

He said in Austria the share of oil boilers in new houses is below 10% while that of pellet boilers in new houses is exceeding 50% in several provinces.

“The same will happen in Ireland within a few years,” he said.

A range of state of the art sustainable energy products from companies in Austria will be among the exhibits at the SEI organised Energy Show in the RDS on May 10-11. All aspects of energy efficiency will be also addressed at seminars.

The event will take place against a background of increasing calls on the Government to do more to develop the sector here, despite support having been announced in the last budget by Finance Minister Brian Cowen.

That support comprises an excise relief package for biofuels costing over €200 million from 2006-2010, together with funding to assist the development of indigenous biofuel plants.

With the country currently spending €20m a day on energy, mostly on imported fossil fuels, there is increased interest in developing cheaper systems from alternative sources.

Ireland is deemed to have one of the best wind energy regimes and the highest climatic potential for biomass in Europe.

Renewable energy currently accounts for around 5.2% of the country’s gross electricity consumption, with wind being the largest contributor.

With radical changes in agriculture, there is now a particular focus on wood energy projects, offering benefits for farmers, land and forest owners and managers, developers, consumers and local communities.

SEI says the development of a wood energy industry could play a significant role in rural regeneration. Well structured and organised local wood-heating businesses could create thousands of jobs and significantly boost rural economies.

Forestry Minister Mary Wallace agrees there is great potential in Ireland for wood biomass to displace imported fossil fuels as a source of energy.

“One of the main obstacles to be overcome in terms of wood energy has been the high cost of installing wood-fired boilers,” she said.

She said financial aid for householders to install this type of boiler is part of the Government’s “Greener Homes” scheme. Grant aid will also be provided for the installation of bigger boilers in small and medium scale enterprises.

“Another challenge is to increase and maintain the supply of raw material, wood chips in particular,” she said.

Ms Wallace confirmed she would be seeking EU approval to introduce a special scheme to support the major investment required for the purchase of biomass harvesters and chippers, critical for the supply of fuel to these new markets.

A related scheme to grant aid the planting of willow as a short-rotation fuel source is also being prepared for EU approval.