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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>Why are we spending public money repairing the effects of peat extraction while commercial peat extraction continues elsewhere? Picture: iStock</p>

outdoors

Ireland’s peatland paradox: Restoring bogs while commercial extraction continues

The taxpayer is helping fund rehabilitation to undo decades of drainage on one set of bogs, while environmental authorities are simultaneously having to pursue unauthorised commercial extraction on others

<p>Minister Darragh O'Brien said he was supportive of a discussion on the future of the carbon tax, but stressed that the funds raised through the levy are put towards climate mitigation measures, including retrofitting of homes and solar panel grants. File picture</p>

politics

Minister faces budget battle over carbon tax delay

<p>Entrepreneur and Ohme CEO David Watson, second from left, with John Manning of Ford Ireland and Ohme director Patrick McDonald announcing an EV charging partnership between Ohme and Ford earlier this year. File picture</p>

munster

Who is the Cork entrepreneur behind one of Ireland's biggest wind energy investors?

Wind energy: Local communities should get a better dividend from wind farms

spotlight

Wind energy: Local communities should get a better dividend from wind farms

Wind energy: Councils raked in almost €75m in rates from wind farms last year

news

Wind energy: Councils raked in almost €75m in rates from wind farms last year

Wind energy: Less than 2% of Ireland suitable for wind farms

news

Wind energy: Less than 2% of Ireland suitable for wind farms

Wind energy: Kerry and Cork top Ireland's wind power league table

Wind energy: Kerry and Cork top Ireland's wind power league table

Galway, Donegal, and Mayo are Ireland’s windiest counties — but the South West tops Ireland's wind energy generation league table

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Wind energy: Why does Ireland still have only one community-owned wind farm?

Wind energy: Why does Ireland still have only one community-owned wind farm?

Templederry in Tipperary is an outlier: Shareholder John Forgarty thinks he knows why. He and other experts spoke with NEIL MICHAEL for today's 'Irish Examiner' wind energy special report

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Private equity firm invests in gas turbine specialist company based in Kildare

Private equity firm invests in gas turbine specialist company based in Kildare

OFS has specialist teams work in more than 40 countries for customers including Mitsubishi Power, Solar Turbines, Siemens, GE Power and Vantage

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Wind turbines in Ireland aerial view

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

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Greenvolt to build three solar farms in Cork for Amarenco

Greenvolt to build three solar farms in Cork for Amarenco

The Waterford firm will build the developments in Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Making homemade deodorant stick with all natural ingredients concept. Antiperspirant on minimal background with lot of copy spac

Pit stop: The science behind smelling better with less plastic

Refillable deodorants have elbowed their way into bathroom cabinets and promise fresher pits while resulting in less single-use plastic. They are a small gesture we can all make to help tackle the bigger packaging problem around bathroom products

Sun, 21 Jun, 2026

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

Alltech's European headquarters has expanded its EU Applications Laboratory, which will focus on nutrient efficiency, environmental impact and renewable energy

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

IKEA Opeening

Geothermal must be in the mix for solving energy crisis

Vistakon in Limerick, Ikea in Dublin, and the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre in Antrim already use geothermal energy, but we need a strategic plan to develop it properly in Ireland

Fri, 29 May, 2026

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

Ireland to fall well short of 2030 emissions reduction targets

New Environmental Protection Agency data projects that the State will only go half way towards its 51% goal

Wed, 27 May, 2026

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