Natural energy could power up to 10,000 jobs

UP to 10,000 jobs could be created in Clare by 2020 if the economic potential of wind and wave energy is fully realised, a local renewable energy developer has claimed.

West Clare Renewable Energy chairman, Pádraig Howard has estimated that the production target of 500 megawatts from wind energy by 2017, as set out in the recently approved Clare Wind Strategy, would require a capital investment of €1.2bn.
If renewable energy projects in Clare are promoted in a strategic way, Mr Howard predicts thousands of new jobs could be created in the manufacture of equipment for wind and wave energy, storage in hydroelectric plants and transportation on to the national grid and grid upgrade.
The founding member of Spirit of Ireland said negotiations are continuing with a potential international investor for the manufacture of wind turbines, which could create 1,000 jobs.
A team of experts from Trinity College have put a €68bn value tag on the potential of creating wave electricity off the west coast of Ireland. Considering 8% of this is based off the Clare coast, Mr Howard claimed this could be worth up to €5bn, if only a small percentage of this energy is fully harnessed.
He believes Clare is the best-placed county in the West to benefit from the spin-off of the provision of renewable resources by locating manufacturing plants and creating a large number of new posts in the legal, finance and insurance sector.
“The production of low-cost carbon neutral energy from wind and wave energy in Clare will be a huge attraction for new international companies who want to locate in a place where electricity can be produced very cheaply and efficiently.
This is not pie in the sky, the research and figures are there to back up the employment potential of renewable energy,” he said.
He revealed that work was continuing on a feasibility study examining the potential for generating hydroelectricity by pumping freshwater to a higher elevation in a number of possible sites in East and West Clare.
However, he dismissed suggestions that the proposed €200m 31 3MW wind turbines on the western slopes of Mount Callan, a 391m high mountain located between Ennis and Miltown Malbay, was contingent on the production of hydroelectric for its future success or vice versa.
The Mount Callan wind farm was recently granted planning permission by Clare County Council before a number of objectors appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
It is possible to store vast amounts of wind energy in Clare by converting it to the potential of water pumped to a higher elevation, compressed air of hydrogen.
This would overcome the “stop-go” limitations of wind by introducing a consistency that more closely matches the nature of demand and the power quality required by Ireland’s electricity grid.
Mr Howard insisted Clare is an unique position to become the national leader for the generation, transportation and storage of renewable energy.
“Clare needs to harness its renewable resources and reinvent its economy or risk been left behind in this area. Clare has significant advantages over other counties in that it has the strongest and most robust electricity grid infrastructure in the country yet its hasn’t to date made much progress in taking advantage of the grid system.
“A zone off the West Coast of Clare from Lahinch to Doonbeg is regarded by experts as having one of the best wave energy sites in the world.
“Clare has the potential to become a net exporter of electricity from renewable energy to the national grid and to international markets in places like England where there is a huge demand for new sources of energy.
“I believe we can deliver the vision as set out in the development plan to make Clare the leader in the creation of renewable energy,” he said.
Green Party Councillor, Brian Meaney said that local communities should embrace the provision of hydroelectricity, once it was properly planned and developed.
Councillor Meaney stressed it was vital that hydroelectric projects were sited in Clare to properly harness the potential of wind and wave energy.