Groups bid to transform Cork into ‘sustainable energy hub’
Business group Cork Chamber and the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) organisation have claimed the ambitious target is achievable if local interests in the sector combine their expertise.
A strategic document drawn up by the groups and due to be released in the coming weeks, which has been seen by the Irish Examiner, says the south-west region is the one best placed to effectively become Ireland’s green energy version of the IFSC.
This view, which the groups say could offer significant help to the country’s economy and unemployed, is because of large sustainable energy opportunities.
* 90% of Ireland’s oil reserves are in the Cork region.
* 25% of the country’s energy resources are produced within one square mile of Whitegate just outside the city, making the prospect of an “energy park” centre a potential reality.
* Six of the 20 largest green research centres in the Republic and the North are either in Cork or linked to a higher education institute in the county.
* The location of one of Ireland’s foremost research centres, the Tyndall National Institute, is in the heart of the city.
In addition, the document says water and wind resources off the south coast can be harnessed to make the nation’s energy services significantly more sustainable — and cheaper — for customers.
While Ireland has the largest maritime area to land mass ratio in the EU, just 1% of our GDP comes from services based on this sector. This compares to 5% in Britain, 8% in Belgium, 11% in Denmark and 20% in Norway.
The implementation of the strategy plan is still in its infancy and has competition from other parts of the country.
However, speaking to more than 200 experts from the sector at the Energy Cork Workshop in Little Island, Cobh, Cork city manager and chairman of the CASP steering committee Tim Lucey said the potential in the project is highly significant.
“Both city and county councils have for the first time set aside 1% of their rates income in 2011 for this purpose,” he said.
