Wind energy set to save electricity users up to €30m next year

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

The news came as the price of electricity is due to increase by 20% in 2007.

Sustainable Energy Ireland says the savings due to wind energy is a result of the steadily improving competitive position of wind power.

IWEA chairman Tim Cowhig, said: “Greater use of wind energy will help ensure price stability, security of supply and a cleaner future for us all.”

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Dick Roche insisted Ireland will meet its Kyoto target to reduce carbon emissions. The European Commission had criticised the country as being among the worst performers in the EU — fourth from the bottom in terms of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the Kyoto Protocols, Ireland is committed to reducing the rise in carbon emissions to 13% above 1990 levels by 2010.

However, the Commission warned that without additional measures, Ireland’s carbon usage will increase by closer to 30%.

The commission says Ireland ranks amongst the worst performers in the EU, at fourth from the bottom in terms of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Roche said seven of the 15 EU countries, when the targets were set, had a bigger gap to bridge than in our case. But he conceded the general downward trend in national emissions between 2002-2004 would not continue unless we took further steps.

“Against the background of sustained economic growth, we have been very successful in decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth and I am determined to identify further measures to build on that success,” said Mr Roche.

Mr Roche said it was “unfortunate” the commission did not acknowledge the greenhouse gas emissions reductions that would be made by over 100 of our biggest energy users now participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

He said a range of measures were in place to achieve emission reductions in the rest of the economy and these were delivering real and significant results.

Mr Roche said that he intended to identify further emission reduction measures in the revised national strategy.