Ireland’s energy demand ‘must be reduced by one-fifth within 15 years’

IRELAND’S demand for energy must be reduced by one-fifth within the next 15years, the country’s engineers said yesterday.

Research from the Irish Academy of Engineering said the substitution of 15% of fossil fuels with energy sources which do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions was essential.

Engineers moved to highlight the consequences of climate change, the impending decline in the availability of fossil fuels and the related security problems in supply.

Academy president Finbar Callanan called for Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey to follow the blueprint to tackle energy problems.

The report identified transport as causing the greatest difficulty in energy usage.

A statement from the academy said: “Demand and emissions are rising rapidly and any gains in technology are more than offset by the move to larger engines. The potential of a range of technologies and non-fossil fuels are examined and the related planning and operational issues are explored.”

The report said there was a continuing increase in Ireland’s energy consumption.

Some of the report’s recommendations included a new approach to the planning of housing, services and transport in conjunction with each other. The engineers also called for the use of Government funds to incentivise more energy-efficient practices.

The report also calls for the introduction of major initiatives in national conservation programmes.

The building and heating sectors were pinpointed as providing significant opportunities to reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions in both private and commercial buildings.

There are expected to be almost three million dwellings in Ireland by 2030. The report said the application of existing energy reduction technologies and the use of building regulations in a controlled manner could ensure a 50% reduction in the usage of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions in the sector.

The report highlighted this area as having the greatest potential to save energy. Recommendations included upgrading the energy efficiency of current housing through an aggressive energy conservation programme, the further development of low-energy housing and the use of renewable technologies where appropriate.

Problems identified in the electricity sector included a rapid rise in the price of electricity in relation to the EU averages, and the security of future gas supplies.

The academy recommended establishing a liquefied natural gas plant, the phasing out of oil-fired generation and reports on the state of nuclear generation and clean coal technology.