Radical energy plan aired

UP to a quarter of Ireland’s energy could be provided by a new scheme pairing wind energy and the flooding of valleys with sea water, an Oireachtas Committee was told yesterday.

The Joint Committee on Climate Change was told that the country is currently 62% dependent on imported gas, whereas Ireland could export energy if the ambitious natural energy plan came to fruition.

The Spirit Of Ireland (SOI) group behind the scheme said 5.2 million megawatts of fully controllable, dispatchable power could be provided by the plan, which would see five natural valleys dammed and then either lined or grouted, and flooded with sea water.

The valleys would be on the western seaboard and wind farm schemes would be located close by, so wind energy could be stored or put straight into the grid, depending on demand and wind supply.

One of the founders of SOI, Graham O’Donnell, said the group was meeting Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan next Monday to outline their plans.

“We could be a world leader,” Mr O’Donnell said. “This is an enormous opportunity for Ireland.”

He said the first valley would cost up to €1bn, but interested financiers from home and abroad, plus other companies, could contribute capital so the Government would not have to.

Some major international firms had already said they would establish bases here if carbon-free, price stable, secure power could be provided. The areas being considered are privately owned.

However, some members of the committee said that, while the proposal was exciting and ambitious, more detail was needed to see if it was viable on a number of levels, including financial. Another group, Energy Needs Ireland, said at present the figures did not stand up to scrutiny.