Recently, Taoiseach Simon Harris and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe declared Ireland’s intention to export renewable energy in the future. However, they have yet to offer a timeline or a roadmap to this ambitious objective. Their assertion has led to comparisons of Ireland to the Saudi Arabia of wind energy, thanks to the country’s untapped offshore wind resources.
Despite these ambitious projections, it remains unclear how Ireland, currently one of the least significant renewable electricity producers in the EU, plans to increase its production. Unpredictable wind patterns, especially during calm weather periods, present another challenge that hasn’t been addressed.
At present, Ireland’s daily wind electricity production is roughly 26 GWh with an installed capacity of 5 GW. In contrast, the EU generates over 2,300 GWh daily, with wind energy accounting for 30 per cent.
With the anticipated growth in renewable energy sources, the EU’s daily energy needs, currently at 7,500 GWh, are projected to double by 2050. Even with a proposed capacity increase to 37 GW, Ireland’s daily generation could range between 100 to 350 GWh, depending on wind conditions. This amount will likely be consumed largely by domestic use, barely scratching the surface of future European energy demands.
Therefore, it would be beneficial for the Taoiseach or the Minister to elaborate on how Ireland plans to realise this ambitious, albeit potentially fanciful, renewable energy goal.
JOHN LEAHY,
Cork.