RENEWABLE ENERGY

Photo: A section of a wind turbine being delivered to Carndonagh.

Ian .


I hear a lot about different types of renewable energy. Could you explain them to me? Can I use any of them in my own house? Regards AN. Buncrana

Reply.
Modern societies consume huge amounts of energy. Heating homes and offices, fuelling transport systems, powering industry and generating electricity. Ireland is no exception; and as our economy grows, so does our demand for energy.

RENWABLE ENERGY
Today, most of this energy is produced using fossil fuels such as gas, oil, coal and peat. These are finite resources -which will one day run out. Burning them releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Other emissions released in fossil fuel combustion cause acid rain. Ireland now imports over 85% of the fuel required for energy production. Renewable energy resources, on the other hand, are constantly replenished through the cycles of nature. The sun, wind, running water, organic materials like wood and even wastes from domestic and agricultural activities are all potential sources of energy. Their supply will never be exhausted.

Several renewable energy technologies are now commercially viable and could make a much greater contribution to sustainability in our energy supply. Renewable resources with the greatest immediate potential in Ireland are wind and biomass energy (wood) for electricity generation. Biomass, geothermal and solar energy could be used for heating. Using wood fuel to heat our homes is a sustainable choice. Wood is 'CO2 neutral', absorbing as much CO2 when it grows as is released when it burns, and takes just 5-20 years to grow. Modern, highly efficient stoves and fireplace inserts make wood fuel a far more practical option for today's lifestyle.

Great potential
There is great potential to use forestry and agricultural energy crops in Ireland and short-rotation forestry offers further potential for the future. Another form of biomass fuel is decomposing municipal waste. This produces gas, which at present provides around 15 MW of electricity in Ireland- enough for over 19,000 homes.

Renewable resources currently provide around six percent of Ireland's electricity capacity. More than two thirds of this is in large-scale hydropower stations operated by the ESB.

Wind energy could make a far larger contribution to our electricity supply. Ireland has one of the best wind resources in Europe. The technology is well proven as safe, reliable and cost-effective (some people also think them an eyesore!). Modern turbines are quieter than ever and you can even get miniature turbines that fit on your chimney. A single 1 MW wind turbine produces enough electricity for 650 homes. The one on your chimney can power your own electrics.


Heat from renewables
The use of renewable energy such as solar panels to provide sustainable heating (and cooling) in commercial and residential buildings could also be greatly increased. Just by facing a house south to capture the maximum sunlight, energy bills can be reduced by ten percent. With additional measures this saving can be trebled. Heat pumps offer an ideal solution for heating and cooling in homes and commercial buildings in Ireland. Geothermal pipes placed under the ground in the garden collect and concentrate geothermal energy stored in the earth to provide space and water heating. The energy can be used to dispel heat for air conditioning. Installation costs are similar to those of conventional heating systems; running costs are much lower. Active solar heating systems can provide economical hot water and space heating. In Ireland solar panels can provide around 60 percent of the annual hot water requirements for homes and buildings. Solar resources in Ireland are considerable (comparable to those in the Netherlands and Austria) and yet remain undeveloped to a large extent.

( For more information click on the title for a link to the Sustainable Ireland web site)





Environmental.