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09 September 2010
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Major progress in renewable energy in Ireland

03 June 2010

Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan has welcomed the Renewable Energy in Ireland report by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

This report reveals that the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources in 2009 was 14.4%, two-thirds of which was wind, ensuring that Ireland is well on track to fulfil Government targets on renewable electricity this year.

In 2009 alone, renewable energy sources generated enough electricity to power 750,000 homes, half of all households in Ireland. There has been growth in the use of renewable energy for heating and transport, but progress is at a slower pace than the contribution of renewable sources for electricity generation. This will be an area of increased policy focus in years to come.I have always said that our targets will not be the limits of our ambition and this report proves our success has been greater than we had earlier imagined.

Minister Ryan commented:

"This report proves that we are on track to meet our 2020 target to have 40% of Ireland’s electricity produced from renewable energy."

Every year Ireland loses €6 billion abroad in the importation of fossil fuels. Harnessing the power of the wind and sun in Ireland reduces this bill as well as carbon emissions, benefitting the economy as well as the environment. Our work on ocean energy has the potential to develop the immense power ocean and seas off our shores.

Taken in conjunction with the Electricity and Gas Prices report, we can also see that our drive towards greener energy does not come at the cost to the consumer.

We are quick to decry lack of progress. I hope today’s report proves that we are on the right track securing the future of Ireland’s energy supplies and positioning Ireland as a world leader in green, home-grown energy.

Government will continue to pursue the renewable energy agenda in order that we can surpass our 2020 target.

For more information on the report please visit Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland web site

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