Energy infrastructure ‘approaching tipping point’

Energy infrastructure is approaching a tipping point, with a lack of trust in State institutions resulting in communities hindering the development of national infrastructure, it has been claimed.

Addressing Minister for Research Sean Sherlock at the Energy Cork’s Stakeholder Workshop, director of XD consultancy Xavier Dubuisson warned that, unless there was action, Ireland risked failing to deliver the infrastructure needed to become an energy exporter.

“I think we are at crunch point regarding infrastructure development. Social acceptance is a big issue and, if we don’t deal with this, it is going to come back to us in a big way,” he said.