Tapping potential of single square mile

Close to 25% of Ireland’s energy requirements are provided from a single square mile in East Cork.

The area — which is home to the Phillips 66 Whitegate Oil Refinery, the Bord Gáis Energy 445mw power station, and the ESB’s 963mw plant — has the potential to become Ireland’s first energy park.

Neil O’Carroll, lead executive at Phillips 66’s Irish refinery, speaking at a conference to mark the launch of Energy Cork, a new energy sector cluster, described the site as an energy park. Harnessing its potential is one of the aims of Energy Cork.