Our Green Future

Ireland’s Energy and the World

The world about us is changing at a faster pace than ever before. In environmental terms this is not necessarily for the better. Our natural resources are being consumed in ever increasing volumes as we, and the rest of he world, strive to maintain the westernised ideals of a modern lifestyle. Security of energy supply, as a consequence of rapidly declining fossil fuel resources, has become a crucial and urgent challenge for us, not to mention the unpredictability of energy costs. Moreover, the real threat of irreversible climate change due to overwhelming increases in carbon emissions, together with the erosion of vast swathes of natural habitation, is something we can no longer ignore.

In Ireland, it would be easy to think that, as a small island nation, somehow we are insulated from all of this uncertainty about global energy and the environment. But we are not. EU laws and guidelines constantly remind us about our own environmental responsibilities and are set to severely penalise Ireland if we don’t for example, meet our annual emissions targets. Government policy and laws (e.g. The Sustainable Energy Act 2002) are insisting on dramatic changes to the way we view energy efficiency, renewability and sustainability. Every regional development plan in the country now has specific guidelines on how best to manage and recycle our waste, in an environmentally sound way. Moreover, the threat of increasing energy dependence on the rest of the world is at it’s greatest ever.

From 1990 to 2007, Ireland’s energy imports increased by 108%, while since 1995 production of the country’s largest indigenous fossil fuel supply – gas from the Kinsale Head field – has decreased by 75%. Even the much heralded Corrib Gas field will only have a lifespan of 10 years. The net effect is that Ireland is now in the unenviable position of having the fourth highest fuel import dependency in Europe – and much of this dependence is ultimately on countries not noted for their political stability. In summary, Ireland’s energy dependence is underlined by the following statistics:

• 90% of Ireland’s energy mix is comprised of three fossil fuels – oil, gas and coal
• Ireland has the 4th highest dependency in Europe on imported fuels
• Imported fuels cost Ireland over €6 billion per annum
• We import all of our oil and coal and over 95% of our gas
• 55% of our electricity is generated from that gas
• Ireland has just 11 days gas supply storage compared against 92 days in France and 84 days in Germany. We are meant to have 60 days.

(Source: The Ecology Foundation)

The old adage of ‘think globally, act locally’, has never been more relevant than it is now. At this pinnacle moment in time, strategic, practical and ethical decisions we make about energy creation, sourcing and supply will determine our future wellbeing and that of generations to come.