Consumers should be made more aware that a levy on electricity bills can actually lead to lower energy prices, according to the owners of wind farms.

Renewable energy groups have urged the Government to better incentivise companies to invest in offshore wind projects in Irish waters.

A billboard campaign promoting the connection between wind energy and dealing with climate change will be unveiled across nine counties today.

Almost one-third of Ireland's energy needs now comes from wind, the second highest in Europe, as new figures confirm that 2018 was a record-breaking year for wind energy production.

A complaint against a dating agency’s radio advert claiming it was “the only regulated matchmaking agency in Ireland” has been upheld by the broadcasting watchdog.

A conference on wind energy yesterday heard calls on the Government to incentivise investment in the industry in the budget to allow the public, communities, and small investors to buy into the sector.

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Wind energy fulfilled a record 50% of Ireland’s electricity needs at times over the past six months, according to the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA).

A formal public consultation process surrounding the State’s proposed renewable energy export programme will be opened “in the next few weeks”.

Nearly €5bn worth of fresh investment in onshore wind energy projects is expected to be made over the next seven years.

Wind energy has huge potential, but the fears of communities need to be heeded, writes Michael Clifford

Ireland has the potential to cater for more than 12% of the EU’s energy demand through renewable energy exports, a conference heard yesterday.

THOUGH hundreds of wind turbines have already been erected around the country, with the largest number being in elevated areas of Cork and Kerry, a national debate on a vexed issue is just getting underway.

The Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, and his British counterpart, Edward Davey, will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding allowing Ireland to export wind-generated electricity to Britain.

A CO CORK company is proving that jobs can be created in the wind energy industry here without intruding on the landscape or damaging the environment.

Ireland should aim to supply the rest of Europe, especially Britain, with wind energy, which has the potential to create 30,000 jobs here, a leading figure in the industry urged yesterday.

Huge amounts of hot air are often generated at conferences, but agathering in Killarney, Co Kerry, was run entirely on real wind yesterday.

Thirty thousand jobs could be created in the renewable energy sector if the Government implements a series of radical reforms, experts have claimed.

Ireland’s wind energy sector has the potential to employ more than 10,000 people by the end of the decade, when the country is set to become an energy exporter.

RED tape and uncertainty are costing jobs in the wind energy sector as investment dropped by 58% in 2010.

THE Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) has described as “bizarre” a report from a leading group of engineers which called for Irish wind energy investment to be halted so Ireland could ensure its international competitiveness.

THE big electricity suppliers have been given the go-ahead by the Government to make unlimited profits from a green energy scheme which, while funded by the planned 5% hike in electricity prices, offers consumers no guarantee of future reduced bills.

IRELAND has the ability to benefit to the tune of around €2 billion per year, on the back of new EU penalties on member states not meeting their 2020 energy targets.

WHY should the EU expect individual member states to achieve a 40% target of all electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020?

A RECORD 1,120 megawatts of Ireland’s electricity needs were generated by wind on April 5, according to the Irish Wind Energy Association.

THE Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) believes this is a make-or-break year for the green economy, as quoted by the Irish Examiner (March 22).

SMALL wind farm projects say they are being forced to go abroad for finance as they are being refused loans by Irish banks who say they can’t access funding due to Irish banking’s poor international image.

A LACK of cost-competitiveness coupled with inadequate supports mean Ireland’s burgeoning wind industry is losing appeal to international investors, a major wind energy conference has been told.

A lack of coordination between a number of state agencies could seriously undermine efforts to meet our targets for renewable energy.

THIS is a “make or break year” for Ireland’s bid to create a smart green economy.

WE’RE being told, everyday by the Government and the EU, that “green” is the way to go, not only in reducing carbon emissions, but also in job-creation.

THE wind energy sector has warned that Ireland is looking increasingly unlikely to meet its target of providing 40% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 unless greater price stability is provided to operators.

THE wind energy sector has expressed concern that just 2.3% of wind installations across Europe are in this country – despite our natural climatic advantages.

WIND energy is saving up to €280,000 a day in fuel production – yet some wind companies are facing waits of up to 10 years before they can get connection to the national grid.

Over 1,300 ’green’ jobs could be created by expanding the North’s renewable energy industry, a conference will be told tomorrow.

WIND energy has the potential to create more than 10,700 jobs including 7,000 in the construction sector, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

The wind energy sector has the potential to attract almost £2bn (€2.37bn) investment to the North and create over 1,300 jobs, it was claimed today.

WIND energy use is growing but the potential for thousands of jobs and €14 billion investment in the sector has still not been tapped, it was claimed.

MANY wind development projects will fail due to expired planning permissions if the offer dates for grid connections continue to change, the Irish Wind Association has warned.

TIM COWHIG of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) states (Irish Examiner, November 6) that “wind power is the only economic and viable option to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels”.

WIND energy will save electricity users up to €30 million next year, according to the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA).