The Irish are at present seeking energy independence and the additional growth of their robust financial system through the use of research and growth into alternative energy sources. At the time of this writing, almost 90% of Ireland’s energy demands are met through importation-the highest degree of foreign product dependence in the land’s entire history. This is a very precarious situation to be in, and the need for developing additional energy sources in Ireland is sharply acknowledged.
Ireland also seeks to conserve and revitalize its naturally beautiful environment and to cleanup its atmosphere through the execution of alternative energy supplies. The European Union has ordered a reduction in sulfuric and nitric oxide emissions for all member nations. Green energy is necessary to meet these objectives. Hydroelectric power has been put to use in Ireland in some areas ever since the 1930s and has been very useful; however, more of it needs to be added. Ireland also needs to harness the wave power of the Atlantic Ocean, which on its west coast is a potential energy supply that the country has in great store.
Ireland actually has the potential to become an energy exporter, rather than a nation so heavily dependent on energy importation. This energy potential resides in Ireland’s substantial wind, ocean wave, and biomass-making alternative energy potentials. Ireland could become a supplier of ocean wave-produced electricity and biomass-fueled electricity to continental Europe and, as they say, “make a killing”.
At the existing time, Ireland is most directly focused on reaching the point where it can generate 15% of the nation’s electricity through wind farms, which the government has set as a national objective to be reached by 2010. But colleges, research institutes, and government personnel in Ireland have been saying that the advancement of ocean wave energy technology would be a true powering force for the nation’s economic system and one which would significantly help to make Ireland energy independent.
A test site for developing wave ocean energy has been established in Ireland, less than two miles off the coast of An Spideal in County Galway Bay. This controlled ocean wave harnessing site is known as “Wavebob”. The most energetic waves in the world are situated off the West coast of Ireland, says Ireland’s Marine Institute CEO Dr. Peter Heffernan. The technology to harness the power of the ocean is only just appearing and Ireland has the chance to become a market leader in this market. David Taylor, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Initiative,or SEI, tells us that SEI is committed to invention in the renewable energy sector. Wave energy is a promising new renewable energy system which could one day make an important contribution to Ireland’s electricity generation mix thereby further reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.
Padraig Walshe, the leader of the Irish Farmers Association, indicates that with the closure of the sugar beet business, an increasing amount of Irish land resources will become available for alternative uses, including bioenergy production. Today, renewable energy resources meet only 2% of Ireland’s total energy consumption. From a farming perspective, growing energy crops will only have a viable future if they provide an economic profit on investment and labor, and if the prospect of this return is secure into the coming future. Currently the return from energy crops is marginal and is hampering the development of the sector. Biomass energies need to be further researched by Ireland.
Additionally there are some in Ireland who are looking into a new unique alternative energy form — Zero point energy and scalar energy. Though a rather modern energy source there are recent health related products that have been developed from zero point energy and scalar energy. For more information try searching for terms like scalar energy, energy pendant or scalar energy pendant in your favorite search engine.
