ESB’s recently completed 435 megawatts natural gas-fired power plant at its Aghada site near Middleton in County Cork is the most efficient and cleanest large-scale thermal facility in Ireland and also one of the most technologically advanced in Europe. The 435 megawatts Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant was built by global power engineering … Read more
ScottishPower Renewables is to expand the capacity of its Whitelee wind farm by 217 megawatts (MW) to 539 megawatts, cementing its position as the largest wind farm in Europe. Using Alstom technology, the new capacity is slated to come on stream in 2012. The project will use 69 Alstom ECO 100 wind turbines with a … Read more
Turkey will connect to the European electrical grid this September using GE’s smart grid technology. The connection will allow for expanded energy and economic opportunities. The Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEIAS) will now be able to buy and sell power in the European electricity market and the connection will strengthen the reliability and availability of … Read more
Finavera Renewables has agreed to the co-development of the 105 megawatt Cloosh Valley Wind Project in County Galway with SSE Renewables (Ireland), the Irish renewables development division of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). The move follows the sale of a majority stake in Finavera’s wholly owned Gate 3 grid connection from Eirgrid to SSE for … Read more
Utilities in Europe and the US are becoming increasingly interested in procuring photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation systems, according to research undertaken by Gartner, the information technology research and advisory company, and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). The Gartner/SEPA survey found that PV is one of the leading technologies for near-term renewable energy for … Read more
According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the installed base of smart electricity meters in Europe will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.9% between 2009 and 2015 to reach 111.4 million at the end of the period. Providing users with detailed information about their electricity consumption the … Read more
European post-sorting PET collection reached 1.4 million tonnes in 2009, an increase of more than 8% on 2008, according to Petcore (PET containers recycling Europe). The overall collection rate in 2009 rose by nearly 2.5%, from 46% to 48.4%, of all PET bottles on the market. The 2009 share of fibres as an end use … Read more
IOFGA (Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association) has endorsed the ministerial commitment to introducing a GM free label for Irish products. The majority of meat and dairy products produced in Ireland are exported primarily to Europe. Germany has introduced a GM free label which has been very successful and it is being closely followed by … Read more
27 business leaders from companies across Europe have supported the move to drive the European Union to toughen greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. In a letter signed by the 27 company heads and published by The Financial Times, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, EU ministers are urged to push for increased carbon-cutting targets. The … Read more
A report by the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security and the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Food, on the European Commission’s Green Paper on ‘Forest Protection and Information in the EU: Preparing Forests for Climate Change’ is being launched today, July 21st, at 10am in the AV Room of Leinster House. … Read more