Rabbitte Calls For Integrated Energy Action

Irish Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte TD has made a call for greater awareness of the benefits of an integrated renewable energy policy between Ireland and the UK. Speaking at a conference in Dublin that was also attended by UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry MP, Mr Rabbitte noted that the recently-published 2011 World Energy Outlook made it clear that, despite shortterm uncertainty over economic growth, global demand for energy is set to grow exponentially over the next 25 years. The report, released by the International Energy Agency, also suggested that much-needed changes in energy policy direction are not yet visible enough. Commenting on progress so far, Minister Rabbitte stated: “Ireland’s deployment of renewable energy sources in electricity has been increasing steadily in recent years as we work, North and South, to deliver a 40% level of renewable electricity consumption by 2020. There has been good progress going from 5% renewable electricity in 2005 to around 15% renewable electricity this year. I am satisfied that we can build out the necessary renewable generation capacity to meet our domestic requirements. “But we do need to work together to overcome the barriers which include community acceptance of network development, and sometimes of wind projects themselves, and to ensure predictable and transparent support frameworks to attract investors. The challenge and opportunity is to steadily increase renewable electricity generation year on year towards 2020, but also to go much further and move on to develop a renewable electricity export market.” Minister Rabbitte went on to say that that he was keen to discuss the possibility of a formal inter-governmental agreement on renewable energy trading. “With some of the best wind and wave resources in Europe – if not the world – the natural resources are clearly available in Ireland and the UK, but we need to work together to ensure that they can be harvested and developed in such a way that will bring national benefits to both of our economies.” “We are clearly moving from an island based energy system into a more interconnected and joined up European energy market. As that structure and market develops over the next few years, it will provide new and bigger market opportunities for our renewable energy sector to engage in. With our proven natural resources in this area, Ireland is well placed to become a key renewable energy trading