Rising oil prices 'highlight need for renewable energy'

Rising international oil prices have sparked warnings that Ireland must do more in the area of renewable energy to reduce its future dependence on imported oil.

Experts in the field say wind and solar power will be more cost-effective than oil in the coming years and should be promoted and developed to prevent an impending energy crisis.

Dr Larry Staudt, the chairman of the Irish Renewable Energy Council, said: "We're not going to get energy from fossil fuels forever.

"People think there's great potential in nuclear [power], but the present commercial nuclear technology can come nowhere near meeting our energy needs, so that's not an option.

"That only leaves renewable [energy], so we better figure out how to use it."