I Network

Taoiseach Brian Cowen speaks to Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan during the launch of the report of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise in Ireland at Government Buildings. Photograph: Eric Luke Irish Times

Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan today launched the Green Economy Report in Government Buildings which outlines what has been achieved so far as well as targets that Ireland will be achieving in the future.

The report covers a wide range of schemes such as investment by bodies such as ESB as well as changes in rules that will allow anyone to produce their own energy and sell whatever they have left back to the grid.

According to the energy minister, the report outlines a truly transformational approach to how Ireland will be able to achieve it’s renewable energy targets with new guaranteed support for offshore wind, ocean energy and further renewable technologies.

As well as this, Eamon Ryan also stated that

“Next year, I will prioritise the implementation of the Green IFSC, a new model of insulation, press ahead with electric vehicles and expand support for business to make the right choices.”

“We are greening this economy, providing jobs, cutting costs and carbon at the same time. The semi-state sector, private industry and the people are all facing in one direction led by Government.”

The green report highlights that through the green economy, 80,000 jobs will be created which will be a much needed boost for Ireland with the potential of bringing inward investment.

Some of Ireland’s largest employers improved their competitiveness by avoiding €60 million in energy costs during 2008.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Mr Eamon Ryan, announced the news at the Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) global conference on energy management in Farmleigh, Dublin.

The global conference included energy experts from over 20 countries including the US, Japan, Italy and Finland. At the conference more was learnt about the success of Ireland’s large enterprises in driving substantial energy efficiencies through implementing Ireland’s Energy Management Standard.

The following companies are amongst the 122 members of SEI’s Large Energy Network (LIEN) who reduced their energy costs by €60 million in 2008:

• Intel
• Diageo
• Pfizer
• Glanbia

At the conference, Minister Ryan stated that:

“Ireland’s large enterprises are developing innovative energy solutions and moving towards exporting their energy expertise. This is vital to developing the green economy and supporting jobs and innovative industry into the future. It also builds upon Ireland’s foundation as a leader in the area of energy management, which we are delighted to share with our international colleagues attending today’s conference in Farmleigh.”

The SEI’s LIEN programme has been in place for 15 years and participants include over 60% of Ireland’s industrial energy use and collectively had energy costs in excess of €1 billion in 2008.

Ceres Power, a UK based alternative energy group, has announced an agreement to supply its products to Bord Gáis.

Under the deal Bord Gáis will pay the UK company €1.8m, including an up-front €1.1m during the development and trial of the CHP products.

Its small scale gas fired combined heating and power (CHP) products are capable of generating as much hot water, central heating and electricity as a single wall unit.

The company says it is committed to providing alternative energy solutions to address the global challenges of reducing emissions, increasing fuel efficiency and improving energy security, by utilising its unique fuel cell technology in products sold into the microgeneration market.

Bord Gáis will also place an order for 16,000 of Ceres’s CHP products over a four-year period, subject to completion of the initial phase and an agreement on the price.

If all goes well, Ceres will sell the products exclusively to Bord Gáis for a four-year period, expected to start in early 2012.

This marks the first contract for Ceres Power outside the UK and forms part of the Group’s expansion plans into Europe, initially targeting highly adjacent growth markets.

Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins said the CHP product had the potential to deliver significant energy savings and lower carbon emissions.

“The CHP product has the potential to deliver significant energy savings, carbon emissions reductions and improved overall energy efficiency for the retrofit residential market in the Island of Ireland.

“We look forward to bringing this product to our customers as part of our strategy to be Ireland’s sustainable provider of customer-led energy solutions. ”

Peter Bance, CEO of Ceres Power, said:

“We are delighted to have formed this relationship with Bord Gáis Éireann which builds on Ceres Power’s leadership position in the residential CHP market and marks the beginning of our expansion plans internationally.”