Renewables ‘could cut CO2 by 25%’

IRELAND has the potential to generate 42% of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind by 2020, reducing CO2 emissions by as much 25% on current levels, the Government claimed yesterday.

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan unveiled what he described as a “groundbreaking” report on renewable energy and the electricity grid.

An international team of experts analysed the implications of a range of energy solutions for Ireland, mainly focusing on the ability of the national power system to handle large quantities of electricity from renewable sources and how much it would cost to secure almost half the country’s electrical needs from the likes of wind and wave technology.