The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) has launched its case for solar in Ireland, by delivering a report to Government underlining the efficiency of solar power in the country.
The ISEA, which has more than 100 member companies and organisations nationwide, has delivered a report to the government underlining the efficiency of solar power in Ireland and its potential for helping secure the country’s energy future.
At the launch of the report on Wednesday, the ISEA said the deployment of solar power in Ireland will see the creation of 7,300 jobs and save EU fines in excess of €300m annually from 2020. Here are some key numbers from the organisation.
Solar power in numbers
- Solar PV is the only renewable energy that does not qualify for a State subsidy.
- Solar operators already have 400 applications ‘grid ready’.
- An established solar sector (eg: 2GW) could easily generate 20% of the country’s overall renewable electricity demand. Data from a 250 kWp commercial rooftop installation in the south-east shows 2GW capacity would produce 7% of Ireland’s total electricity needs.
- Solar meets 3.5% of European electricity demand (7% in Germany, Italy and Greece).
- Solar power in the UK has produced more electricity than coal across a whole month for the first time. Solar panels generated 50% more electricity than coal in May – an estimated 1,336 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, compared to 893GWh output from coal (research by Carbon Brief).
- Solar has the potential to deliver €2bn in gross value added (GVA) and €800m in tax revenues (2017-2030) – giving the economy a return of €3 for event €1 invested in the sector.
- Solar creates energy security. Some 85% of Ireland’s energy was imported in 2014 – costing €5.7bn – and 97% of imports were fossil fuels (not including the fossil fuel content of imported electricity). Ireland’s overall energy use and related CO2 emissions both increased by approximately 5% in 2015. Use of coal rose 19.6%.
- Solar has minimal impact on the environment (land can still be used for agricultural uses) with maximum benefits towards Ireland’s renewable energy 2020 targets. It does not produce any pollutants and is one of the cleanest sources of energy worldwide.Renewable energy targets
The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) has launched its case for solar. Pictured calling on the Government to shine a light on the solar industry and introduce a support mechanism for the industry were David Maguire, chairman of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) and ISEA member Peter Duff with Charlotte Maguire (age 7), from Dublin and Ailbhe Kelly (age 4) from Cork. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
The ISEA says Ireland is currently on track to “fall significantly short” on its EU 2020 renewable energy targets where it has committed to generating 40% of our electricity from renewable sources.
In 2014 Ireland achieved just over half of this target (23%) from a combination of wind, hydro and biomass sources.
ISEA Chairman David Maguire said: “It is clear the country is facing a real challenge to meet these targets and avoid significant fines. Despite the successful deployment of wind energy in Ireland, which enjoyed considerable state support, wind alone will not ensure that we reach that goal.”
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Amy Nora Fitzgibbon – 19/06/2016)
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