Fintan Slye, chief executive, Eirgrid; Ireland's Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, TD; and Bernie Gray, chairperson, Eirgrid, at the launch of Eirgrid Group's Annual Renewable Report 2012
The island of Ireland now has one of the highest rates of wind-energy production per capita in the world, relative to population size – that’s according to energy infrastructure company Eirgrid, which has launched its 2012 report on renewables.
According to the Annual Renewable Report 2012, which was launched this morning by Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, TD, Ireland and Northern Ireland now have a total of 2,484 megawatts of renewable electricity capacity. Eirgrid said this is equivalent to the energy required to power about 1.5m homes and reflects how the island is taking a world-leading position in terms of integrating renewable energy into the power system.
In 2011, Eirgrid said renewable generation supplied 17pc of electricity demand on the island of Ireland (18pc in Ireland and 12pc in Northern Ireland). This is a 5pc increase on 2010 figures.
Fintan Slye, Eirgrid’s chief executive, said the group is committed to further developing the island’s renewable-energy potential.
He spoke about the East-West Interconnector, plus Eirgrid’s Grid25 and smart grid programmes.
“Eirgrid is working to ensure the infrastructural and operational capability of our transmission system is developed to ensure that Ireland and Northern Ireland meet the 2020 renewable electricity targets,” said Slye.
By 2020, Ireland has set a target to ensure that at least 16pc of all energy consumed in the country is from renewables. This includes a sub-target of 10pc in the transport sector.
