Sustainability – Renewables

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RENEWABLE ISLAND

Content collection highlighting a variety of news and debate on sustainable living as it relates to the future energy needs across our cities, industry, environment, government and business sectors.

RENEWABLE ISLAND

Content collection highlighting a variety of news and debate on sustainable living as it relates to the future energy needs across our cities, industry, environment, government and business sectors.

<p>Climate Change Advisory Council said 2025 saw the failure of multiple targets of the country’s climate action plan, including onshore wind, solar, dispatch-down and renewable electricity share of demand.</p>

news

Renewable energy wasted last year highest since records began, new report shows

Climate Change Advisory Council said this resulted in 'approximately 10%, or €523m, in surplus wind energy wasted that could have otherwise been effectively utilised to deliver cleaner, cheaper electricity to Irish homes and businesses'

<p>Adi Roche has been working with, and advocating for, the victims of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster for decades. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

comment-analysis

Nuclear option: Adi Roche says Ireland should commit to renewables rather than nukes

<p>Adare-based firm Ballycar Green Energy had sought the planning permission, which comprised 12 turbines with a tip height of 158m. File picture</p>

munster

Planning permission refused for 12-turbine wind farm in Clare

Ireland sees the risks but acts too late and pays for it every time

comment-analysis

Ireland sees the risks but acts too late and pays for it every time

Lack of available land keeping Port of Cork in the city for longer, says CEO

companies

Lack of available land keeping Port of Cork in the city for longer, says CEO

Electric car purchase incentives

politics

Government wants to 'do more' for small businesses by improving renewable energy grants

Offshore Wind Farm

Fuel crisis shows Ireland cannot build a secure future on imported energy

Ireland needs to harness its own abundant renewable energy resources as quickly as possible and reduce its exposure to volatile global fossil fuel prices, writes Scott Sutherland, project director of Codling Wind Park

Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway

Cabinet to discuss inquiry into child sex abuse in schools

Hildegarde Naughton will tell Cabinet colleagues the four appointments will include a senior legal consultant and child safeguarding experts

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Solar panels. Power station. Blue solar panels. Alternative source of electricity. Solar farm. The source of ecological renewabl

Government 'very open' to plug-in solar panels

Plug-in solar panels can be plugged directly into a mains socket for energy generation

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant

John Gibbons: I've changed my mind on nuclear power — we don't need it any more

Becoming energy independent is simpler than it's ever been — wind and solar have the potential to free us from endless energy shocks

Sat, 11 Apr, 2026

Offshore Technician Observing landing Helicopter and Wind_Farm from deck

Harnessing wind energy to become self-sufficient opens economic opportunities

Geopolitical disruption only serves to reinforce the reality that energy independence and security have never been more important, writes Phil Murphy

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Wiev on a Orsted Offshore wind-turbine farm Borkum Riffgrund 2 in German North Sea close to Emden with nautical vessel and ships

S Alan Healy: Iran conflict brings offshore wind back into focus

The true 'engine room' for future energy independence is widely considered to be offshore wind

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Bottlehill superdump: Indaver incinerator ash fears reignite over Cork County Council site

Bottlehill superdump: Indaver incinerator ash fears reignite over Cork County Council site

From ambitious landfill project to mothballed mega-site, Bottlehill’s story reflects changing waste policy, local opposition and unanswered questions

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Dáil committee told more than €1.4m of clean renewable wind energy was being 'dispatched down, or wasted, every single day' and could be redirected to homes in fuel poverty

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Offshore Wind Farm

Ireland signs pact with European countries to deliver offshore wind power through joint projects

Deal pledges to deliver 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power through large-scale joint projects, which could power more than 70 million homes

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

Call for Ireland to transform into EU's first 'electrostate'

Wind Energy Ireland conference to hear country has world-class wind resources that should be deployed at scale to boost path to energy independence

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

The ministers said grid investment would be substantial in the years to come to make Ireland’s energy grid able to meet future demand

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Aerial Drone Shot Of Engineers Inspecting Solar Panels In Field Generating Renewable Energy

Marquis of Waterford claims solar farm will interfere with sporting rights on land leased by gun club

The registered owner of the land consented to the application for planning permission

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Why modern thermal power is key to Ireland’s renewable future

Why modern thermal power is key to Ireland’s renewable future

Wind and solar have together generated more power worldwide this year than coal — this marks a turning point, writes Finlay McCutcheon

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

Data centres must get at least 80% of their energy from renewables, regulator says

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities said grid operators will have to consider where a data centre is being proposed for and if the energy demand in that area is already constrained

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Challenges around infrastructure are finally being tackled

Challenges around infrastructure are finally being tackled

Implementation of the list of 30 actions set out in the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce report is critical for Ireland’s ambitions to meet its climate targets, and for our future economic development

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

BRAZIL-US-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-CORREA DO LAGO

China 'coming up with solutions for everyone', says Cop30 chief

“Somehow the reduction in enthusiasm of the global north is showing that the global south is moving,” said Cop30 president André Corrêa do Lago.

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Four people awarded over €300k in total for damages arising from wind farm nuisance

Four people awarded over €300k in total for damages arising from wind farm nuisance

The court had heard a claim that the nuisance caused the breakdown of one couple's relationship

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

Silhouetted wind turbine at a rural windfarm.

Surplus renewable energy used to heat immersion tanks of older people

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative, the brainchild of the late John Mullins, won the environment category section of the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards recently.

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025

FRANCE-DIGITAL-CLOUD

Irish people surveyed want data centres to be powered completely by renewable energy

Some 40% recognise that data centres account for a large share of national energy consumption — more than a fifth of Ireland's metered electricity

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Vital infrastructure or storing up trouble? Debate over battery farms continues to rage

Vital infrastructure or storing up trouble? Debate over battery farms continues to rage

Rising electricity demands, renewable energy goals, and soaring energy bills all mean the need for such facilities is real, if not critical

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Energy storage system or battery container unit

Rural communities ‘deserve transparency’ on energy storage developments

Senator raises concerns about proposed battery energy storage system in Newmarket, Co Cork

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Demand for gas hits record low in June

Demand for gas hits record low in June

The fall in demand for gas comes as renewable energy met almost 38% of Ireland’s demand in the same month

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Architect designing a commercial building

Planning chaos as hundreds of applications risk being invalid after regulation error

Hundreds of planning applications lodged since August 6 may be deemed invalid due to confusion over new housing department rules

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Port of Waterford applies to develop terminal as support for offshore wind projects

Port of Waterford applies to develop terminal as support for offshore wind projects

The investment will transform the port’s capacity to support large-scale offshore renewable energy projects, including the proposed Tonn Nua Offshore Wind Farm

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Circle K brings biofuel alternative to diesel into selected forecourts

Circle K brings biofuel alternative to diesel into selected forecourts

Circle K said the milesBIO HVO100 is a 'renewable biofuel made from waste materials and by-products from the food industry'

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025