December 4th, 2018 Fourteen years ago, Martin Scherfler, skipped out on mandatory military service term in his home country of Austria to instead fight a green battle abroad. “It is mandatory for a young male adult in Austria to serve in the army, I couldn’t see myself doing that, so Read more…
July 31st, 2018 A new domestic rooftop solar grant scheme launched today to mixed reactions from researchers, NGOs and opposition parties who called for urgent additional support for businesses, community groups and farmers. Launched this morning by the Minister for Climate Action, Denis Naughten TD, the new microgeneration pilot scheme Read more…
July 30th, 2018 Wind and solar could provide over one-third of Europe’s energy by 2030 without major impacts on prices if countries pool their renewable energy resources, a new Irish-led study has found. The University College Cork-led study published in the energy journal Joule also warns that fluctuation of energy Read more…
February 2nd, 2018 The EU used more electricity from solar, wind and biomass than from coal in 2017, according to a new analysis by two leading think tank. The joint study from Sandbag and Agora Energiewende show that wind, solar and biomass now accounts for just below 21 per cent Read more…
January 24th, 2018 Ireland’s entire housing stock must be retrofitted to higher energy standards if we are to achieve our impending climate and energy targets, the Dail’s Climate Action Committee heard yesterday. Speaking before a Committee hearing on Ireland’s 2020 energy targets, the CEO of the Tipperary Energy Agency, Paul Read more…
November 8th, 2017 A recent report from Eurostat shows that Irish citizens face the fourth highest charge on their electricity bills across Europe. After excluding the relevant taxes, we rise to second place, with electricity bills are set to soar to new heights with the winter season now firmly upon Read more…
August 30th, 2017 The Solar Energy Future conference in Cork at the start of 2016 was a roaring success. The event brought together over 350 interested parties, encouraged by the recent drop in solar technology costs and the rise in policymakers’ interest in green energy. “The conference was upbeat and Read more…
August 30th, 2017 The Government’s long-awaited new renewable energy scheme must include support for household solar power, says one of Ireland’s leading climate policy analysts. A new cost-benefit analysis by Joseph Curtin, a research fellow at both the International and European Affairs and University College Cork, finds that solar panels Read more…
May 1st, 2017 A conclusive end of life strategy for cutaway bogs is required before any work commences on a newly announced solar project between Bord na Mona and the ESB, says An Taisce official. The semi-state bodies announced plans this week to develop four large solar farms on cutaway peatlands Read more…
13th April 2017 Solar farm legislation is “urgently needed” as councils struggle to deal with an explosion in planning applications, says Cork Senator. Speaking in the Seanad this week, Fine Gael’s Tim Lombard called for national guidelines to assist Local Authorities in dealing with planning applications for solar farms. Over Read more…