Encouraged by Government incentives to increase renewable energy usage, Britain is on track to substantially expand its use of hydropower technology, with the number of plants in England and Wales set to increase from 400 to 1,200 by 2020. The number of applications for hydropower plants has increased six fold since 2000. The UK’s Environmental … Read more
Research from Queen’s University Belfast has revealed the 20th century decline in the Irish hare population is almost certainly associated with changes in farming practices. Indeed, the research suggests hares may join the ranks of other farmland species, such as the Corncrake, unless more is done to protect their habitat. The research team, led by … Read more
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has launched a milestone report on the effects of climate change on Ireland’s marine ecosystems. The document, entitled ‘Irish Ocean Climate and Ecosystem Status Report 2009’, details a number of significant observations recorded in recent years including: increases in sea surface temperature, increased wave heights off the south … Read more
The Minister for the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must provide as a matter of urgency, a temporary exemption for some parts of the country, from the new waste water regulations relating to the construction of one-off houses, a report by the Oireachtas European Scrutiny Committee has stated. The Committee is calling on … Read more
In keeping with the Government’s programme for the rationalisation of State bodies, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has become operational to management the inland fisheries sector. The new body replaces the Central and seven Regional Fisheries Boards, the National Salmon Commission and eight Fisheries Co-operative Societies. The establishment of the IFI marks a new departure in … Read more
The Carbon Windfall Levy, introduced in the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Act 2010, has been signed into law. The levy will apply to electricity generators and recover a substantial portion of the unearned carbon windfall gains that they currently receive through the Single Electricity Market. Under the Kyoto Carbon Trading provisions, electricity generators … Read more
Irish energy technology company SolarPrint has entered into a partnership with Italian car manufacturing giant Fiat to develop solar panels that can be incorporated into the roof surface of automotives, as a means of generating alternative sources of energy for vehicles by converting light to power. Under the terms of the deal, SolarPrint is a … Read more
The recession may have provided a stay of execution for European energy security but dangers persist, according to Datamonitor. Latest research by the independent business analyst suggests that while improved interconnections within Europe and continuing advances in energy efficiency should ensure security of supply is reasonably well assured, collective reliance on external gas supplies will … Read more
The first Southern Energy and Facilities Management Exhibition will be held in Cork’s new 40,000 sq ft event venue – The ARC Centre on Park Road – on 6th–7th October 2010. The Southern Energy and Facilities Management Exhibition is designed to put suppliers of alternative energy solutions, energy saving systems and a wide range of … Read more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has hosted a significant conference on climate change to address the key elements of the Copenhagen Accord, agreed at the December 2009 meeting of the UNFCCC, and to contribute to preparations for the forthcoming conference in Cancun, Mexico in November 2010. The conference was opened by Ciaran Cuffe, TD, Minister … Read more