Ireland is poised to become a global leader in research into harnessing wave, tidal, and wind energy, Taoiseach Enda Kenny predicted as he turned the sod on a €15m research lab.

A new €14m research lab will help make Ireland a global leader in marine renewable energy research, the energy minister was told yesterday.

AS an island nation, energy costs and energy sources for transport matter more to us than to most other countries: being competitive while keeping the wheels of motion and transport oiled means considering alternatives to oil and fossil-based fuels.

THE next lecture in the Faculty of Science Public Lecture Series at UCC — which will take place at 8pm on Wednesday — will focus on the extent to which renewable energy can deliver in Ireland and make a serious contribution to our future energy needs.