The Irish are presently pursuing energy independence as well as the further development of their robust economy by means of the implementation of analysis and development into alternative energy sources. At the time of this writing, nearly 90% of Ireland’s energy requirements are met by means of importation-the highest level of foreign product dependence inside the nation’s whole history.  This is a very precarious scenario to be in, and the want for developing alternative energy sources in Ireland is sharply perceived. Ireland also seeks to conserve and rejuvenate its naturally beautiful environment and to clean up its atmosphere through the implementation of alternative energy supplies. The European Union has mandated a  reduction in sulphuric and nitric oxide emissions for all member nations. Green energy is needed to meet these objectives. Hydroelectric power has been utilized in Ireland in some areas since the 1930s and has been really effective; nonetheless, much more of it needs to be installed.  Ireland also needs to harness the wave power of the Atlantic Ocean, which on its west coast is really a potential energy supply that the nation has in excellent store.

Ireland actually has the prospective to turn out to be an energy exporter, as opposed to a nation so heavily dependent on energy importation. This energy prospective resides in Ireland’s substantial wind, ocean wave, and biomass-producing alternative energy potentials. Ireland could become a supplier of ocean wave-produced electricity and biomass-fueled energy to continental Europe and, as they say, “make a killing”. At the present time, Ireland is most closely focused on reaching the point where it can produce 15% of the nation’s electricity via wind farms, which the government has set as a national objective to be reached by 2010. But universities, research institutes, and government personnel in Ireland have been saying that the development of ocean wave energy technologies could be a true driving force for the nation’s economy and one which would greatly help to make Ireland energy independent. A test web 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 experimental ocean wave harnessing website is referred to as “Wavebob”. The most energetic waves inside the world are located 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 emerging and Ireland has the chance to turn out to be a market leader in this sector. David Taylor, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Initiative,or SEI, tells us that SEI is committed to innovation within the renewable energy sector. Wave energy can be a promising new renewable energy resource which could 1 day make a considerable contribution to Ireland’s electricity generation mix thereby further reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Padraig Walshe, the president of the Irish Farmers Association, tells us that with the closure of the sugar beet industry, an growing quantity of Irish land resources will grow to be accessible for alternative uses, which includes bioenergy production. Right now, renewable energy sources 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 return on investment and labour, and if the prospect of this return is secure into the future. Currently the return from energy crops is marginal and is hampering the development of the industry. Biomass energies need to be further researched by Ireland.