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RENEWABLE ISLAND

Content collection highlighting a variety of news and debate on sustainable living as it relates to the future energy needs across our cities, industry, environment, government and business sectors.

RENEWABLE ISLAND

Content collection highlighting a variety of news and debate on sustainable living as it relates to the future energy needs across our cities, industry, environment, government and business sectors.

<p>About 15% of the power produced by Irish wind farms was thrown away because the network was not strong enough to move it.</p>

economy

Alan Healy: We're throwing away the cheap electricity — then paying to import the dear stuff

There is a bitter irony about €41 increase in electricity bills coming into effect in October which is needed to strengthen a grid that is unable to carry the cheap electricity we do generate

<p>Declan Cullinane (left), managing director of Amarenco and Ken Gaine (right), business development director of Greenvolt Next. The two firms said there are ecological plans to increase the biodiversity of each location, integrating a soil health monitoring programme across all three sites.</p>

companies

Greenvolt to build three solar farms in Cork for Amarenco

<p>Refillable deodorants are not world-saving on their own, but they are a useful example of moving from use-and-bin to use, refill and reuse. Sustainability is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes it is about policy, renewable energy, and biodiversity. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: iStock</span>
</p>

outdoors

Pit stop: The science behind smelling better with less plastic

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

farming

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

IKEA Opeening

comment-analysis

Geothermal must be in the mix for solving energy crisis

Cost about CO2 reduction - concept with CO2 text against woodland and european euro banknote

news

Ireland to fall well short of 2030 emissions reduction targets

Clean power by 2030

South-West 'primed' to lead on renewables

The KPMG report points out that Cork supplies 25% of national energy demand and is home to roughly 20% of Ireland’s installed electricity generation capacity

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Outrigger canoes in the bay at Port Olry - Espititu Santo, Vanuatu

UN backs historic climate crisis ruling, despite US attempts to stop resolution

However, the US joined Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Liberia and Belarus in opposing the resolution

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Rural Farmland Landscape With Sheep And Rotating Wind Turbines For Renewable Energy Production In Scotland, UK

Renewable energy wasted last year highest since records began, new report shows

Climate Change Advisory Council said this resulted in 'approximately 10%, or €523m, in surplus wind energy wasted that could have otherwise been effectively utilised to deliver cleaner, cheaper electricity to Irish homes and businesses'

Wed, 13 May, 2026

Nuclear option: Adi Roche says Ireland should commit to renewables rather than nukes

Nuclear option: Adi Roche says Ireland should commit to renewables rather than nukes

Chornobyl activist ADI ROCHE says Ireland should resist the push to adopt nuclear power generation, while NEIL MICHAEL provides a historical insight into Ireland's opposition to nukes

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Planning permission refused for 12-turbine wind farm in Clare

Planning permission refused for 12-turbine wind farm in Clare

The wind farm would have been located northwest of Limerick city, at Ballycar, Co Clare

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Ireland sees the risks but acts too late and pays for it every time

Ireland sees the risks but acts too late and pays for it every time

Across energy, housing and infrastructure, Ireland has a problem with timing and governance, writes Professor Aoife Foley

Thu, 07 May, 2026

Lack of available land keeping Port of Cork in the city for longer, says CEO

Lack of available land keeping Port of Cork in the city for longer, says CEO

Chief executive Ann Doherty said developments in offshore renewable energy infrastructure meant the Port of Cork would remain in Tivoli until 2045

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Electric car purchase incentives

Government wants to 'do more' for small businesses by improving renewable energy grants

Climate minister Darragh O'Brien said he was working on improving grants for SMEs to help deal with soaring energy costs

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Offshore Wind Farm

Fuel crisis shows Ireland cannot build a secure future on imported energy

Ireland needs to harness its own abundant renewable energy resources as quickly as possible and reduce its exposure to volatile global fossil fuel prices, writes Scott Sutherland, project director of Codling Wind Park

Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway

Cabinet to discuss inquiry into child sex abuse in schools

Hildegarde Naughton will tell Cabinet colleagues the four appointments will include a senior legal consultant and child safeguarding experts

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Solar panels. Power station. Blue solar panels. Alternative source of electricity. Solar farm. The source of ecological renewabl

Government 'very open' to plug-in solar panels

Plug-in solar panels can be plugged directly into a mains socket for energy generation

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant

John Gibbons: I've changed my mind on nuclear power — we don't need it any more

Becoming energy independent is simpler than it's ever been — wind and solar have the potential to free us from endless energy shocks

Sat, 11 Apr, 2026

Offshore Technician Observing landing Helicopter and Wind_Farm from deck

Harnessing wind energy to become self-sufficient opens economic opportunities

Geopolitical disruption only serves to reinforce the reality that energy independence and security have never been more important, writes Phil Murphy

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Wiev on a Orsted Offshore wind-turbine farm Borkum Riffgrund 2 in German North Sea close to Emden with nautical vessel and ships

S Alan Healy: Iran conflict brings offshore wind back into focus

The true 'engine room' for future energy independence is widely considered to be offshore wind

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Bottlehill superdump: Indaver incinerator ash fears reignite over Cork County Council site

Bottlehill superdump: Indaver incinerator ash fears reignite over Cork County Council site

From ambitious landfill project to mothballed mega-site, Bottlehill’s story reflects changing waste policy, local opposition and unanswered questions

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Dáil committee told more than €1.4m of clean renewable wind energy was being 'dispatched down, or wasted, every single day' and could be redirected to homes in fuel poverty

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Offshore Wind Farm

Ireland signs pact with European countries to deliver offshore wind power through joint projects

Deal pledges to deliver 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power through large-scale joint projects, which could power more than 70 million homes

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

Call for Ireland to transform into EU's first 'electrostate'

Wind Energy Ireland conference to hear country has world-class wind resources that should be deployed at scale to boost path to energy independence

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

The ministers said grid investment would be substantial in the years to come to make Ireland’s energy grid able to meet future demand

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Aerial Drone Shot Of Engineers Inspecting Solar Panels In Field Generating Renewable Energy

Marquis of Waterford claims solar farm will interfere with sporting rights on land leased by gun club

The registered owner of the land consented to the application for planning permission

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Why modern thermal power is key to Ireland’s renewable future

Why modern thermal power is key to Ireland’s renewable future

Wind and solar have together generated more power worldwide this year than coal — this marks a turning point, writes Finlay McCutcheon

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

Data centres must get at least 80% of their energy from renewables, regulator says

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities said grid operators will have to consider where a data centre is being proposed for and if the energy demand in that area is already constrained

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Challenges around infrastructure are finally being tackled

Challenges around infrastructure are finally being tackled

Implementation of the list of 30 actions set out in the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce report is critical for Ireland’s ambitions to meet its climate targets, and for our future economic development

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

BRAZIL-US-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-CORREA DO LAGO

China 'coming up with solutions for everyone', says Cop30 chief

“Somehow the reduction in enthusiasm of the global north is showing that the global south is moving,” said Cop30 president André Corrêa do Lago.

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Four people awarded over €300k in total for damages arising from wind farm nuisance

Four people awarded over €300k in total for damages arising from wind farm nuisance

The court had heard a claim that the nuisance caused the breakdown of one couple's relationship

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025