Three projects showing way forward

THE cold period has concentrated minds on the whole area of energy, especially that which heats homes, offices, factories and places that people frequent.

It has also prompted people to look at ways of using costly energy to best effect, be it generated by oil, gas, coal, wood, turf, or electricity. Keeping homes and workplaces warm in sub-zero temperatures, a lot of energy is wasted.

Each week, new companies are springing up and older ones are also coming forward with plans and projects in the green/environment area. Many can offer quality employment to graduates and other well-qualified people. And not only do they benefit the environment, they can also save people money.

This week, we will take a brief look at three projects. Caraghbridge Technologies Ltd, based in Co Kerry, is an energy management, energy solutions company which provides wireless, web-based technology to companies which want to reduce their carbon footprint and their costs.

This technology provides information every five minutes on where, when and how energy is used. The data is then used to manage electricity, oil, water and gas. ‘If you can’t measure, you can’t manage,’ says Tadhg Fox, of Caraghbridge Technologies.

Hotels, factories, shops, schools and such buildings can all gain from better energy management and the company has just set up a green programme for the Malton Hotel, in Killarney. The aim is to transform every aspect of the hotel into a ‘green machine’.

Also to hand is news that a Cork-based company, Treemetrics, has received the Society of Irish Foresters Innovation Award for its technology which measures and harvest forests in a sustainable way.

On average 20% of the value of forests is lost at harvest time around the world and the United Nations is moving to reduce the destruction of rainforests. Treemetrics co-founder and chief executive Enda Keane explains the company has developed green technology to produce more timber from fewer trees.

“The forest owner and sawmill buyer can ‘cut’ the forest online in their office without even having to visit the site, so you can see where the value is and reduce waste,” he points out.

The hi-tech, innovative approach is a far cry from the current, hands-on method of measuring trees. Changing a system that has served the industry for so long is a major challenge, but the company knew there must be a better and easier way.

Treemetrics is working with Coillte to assess managed forests in Ireland, and Coillte are now acting as a customer reference for prospective clients around the world. This support has been central to Treemetrics securing contracts with other state forests owners around the world.

The company has recently secured contracts in Norway, Australia, Britain and the USA and is expecting to announce further contracts with major global forest owners within the next number of months.

Another current mover is the Irish green energy company, Rural Generation, which has signed a long-term, €5 million agreement to source and provide willow chips. Willow is the key ingredient for a new eco log which will see a number of “green jobs” being established in Ireland as well as presenting business opportunities for niche farmers.

Croí na Tine (heart of the fire) is a 100% natural fire log made from coppiced willow, planted and harvested on Irish soil. Claimed to be the first product of its kind in Ireland to use willow chip, it was previously produced in Holland.

The new contract has resulted in the return of production of the log to Ireland with plans in the pipeline to eventually export. As well as providing clean, sustainable, carbon neutral energy, short rotation coppice willow development also provides business opportunities for Irish farmers who wish to diversify.

Rural Generation says it can guarantee to buy local farmers’ willow for a set price. This is not only of benefit environmentally, it also creates and sustains jobs.

Tom Brennan, managing director of Rural Generation, explains farmers are being asked to sign up to 10-year contracts to supply the wood, saying it could provide a valuable business opportunity for tillage farmers who have excess to drying capacity for part of the year.

Meanwhile, according to the Government-backed report of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise, ‘green jobs’ in Ireland could account for 4% of total employment by 2020.

The plan is to create 127,000 such jobs over the next decade as part of its smart economy framework.

Exploitation of best wind and ocean energy in the world has the potential to create almost 18,000 jobs by 2020, the report concludes. Given the current outlook for many other parts of the economy, it looks like the way to go.