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.