Foreword

Accelerating renewable energy…

As if mitigating the climate crisis was not incentive enough, global events of the past 12 months have served to highlight the importance of growing Ireland’s indigenous renewable energy.

Ireland’s over-dependence on fossil fuel imports has raised security of supply challenges for the future and emphasised the need to accelerate further ambitious renewable deployment.

Radically reducing the dependence on imported energy will empower Ireland to control energy costs, a key aspect of retaining public confidence in the transition.

As the impact of the carbon ceilings across various sectors start to land, it is clear that if Ireland is to meet its net zero target by 2050, a diversity of technologies will be required.

Of all that is currently deployable at scale, electrification stands as the most viable route to decarbonisation, but Ireland must move to maximise efficiencies in the generation and distribution of renewable power. However, even increased generation, through a renewable pipeline of development particularly in the onshore and offshore wind sectors, will not be enough.

Flexible and emerging technologies can compliment renewable assets, reducing curtailment and maximising the electricity grid. Co-location of generation, usage, storage, and grid infrastructure is critical.

Ireland must accelerate the deployment of renewables to mitigate risk but this must go beyond generation to maximise efficiency.

This need for acceleration is outlined by a number of key stakeholders throughout the Renewable Energy Magazine, not least by our cover interview with SSE Renewables’ Maria Ryan, who outlines the role offshore wind deployment can have in increasing the share of renewables on the electricity grid. A round table discussion hosted by Gas Networks Ireland discusses the importance of utilising and transitioning existing assets into an integrated energy system. Other highlights include Brian Ó Gallachóir’s timely examination of the contradictions between the sectoral emissions ceilings and the reality of global energy trends, and we preview the role of established and emerging technologies in the future energy system, including the University of Galway’s Rory Monaghan on what a future hydrogen strategy should entail.

David Whelan, Editor