Solar 21 boss hits out over emissions
RENEWABLE energy company Solar 21 has criticised the Government for what it calls a “concerning” lack of progress with regards to the implementation of the country’s action plan to reduce emissions by 2020.
“Ireland is currently languishing in last place, according to the most recent Eurostat figures, when it comes to progress on renewable energy and emissions, and is one of two countries that face massive EU fines for missing the 2020 targets,” said Solar 21 CEO Michael Bradley.
Ireland faces potential fines of up to hundreds of millions of euro if the country fails to make adequate progress on reducing its emissions to agreed upon levels by 2020.
Solar 21 criticised the Government for not providing incentives to households to develop solar energy. The company noted that 50pc of solar energy in Germany is created by private households, while the UK also outperforms Ireland in this area.
The company said it could take up to five years to develop an effective biomass market, which would leave Ireland languishing well behind other countries.
Solar 21 added that planning objections that are tied up in the High Court were delaying wind projects meaning it is increasingly unlikely that the country will hit agreed upon targets.
Elsewhere, renewable energy companies EnergyPro Analytics and Galetech Energy Services are to form a new joint venture known as EnergyPro Asset Management.
The new venture will manage assets for a variety of wind farm owners across Ireland in Cork, Kildare and Cavan.