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David Neary of Deloitte Ireland provides an overview of Ireland's Tax Strategy Group's (TSG) recommendations with respect to incentivising renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting surplus electricity into hydrogen is considered a promising way for accommodating large-scale wind or solar power. However, it is expensive to establish a new-built hydrogen network or storage facilities at the current stage. Hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG), a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, can be an alternative approach to consuming surplus renewable energy in the short-medium term. This paper investigates the feasibility of establishing an electricity-gas-hydrogen coupled energy system by modeling the HCNG network, power grid, and hydrogen electrolyzer in Ireland with consideration of pipeline characteristics. The economic analysis based on the planning results of the coupled system is presented in detail. When the hydrogen injection ratio reaches 20% at the HCNG stations, the system operating cost and carbon emission can be reduced by 24.2% and 6.4%, and 100% wind can be consumed. • A detailed modeling method for HCNG pipeline pressure drop and line pack is proposed. • An EGH-IES planning model encompassing entire HCNG supply chain is established. • A case study is conducted based on the real energy system in Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As power systems evolve towards integrating higher shares of renewables, the demand for additional levels of flexibility is increased. Meanwhile, o‐ther energy consuming sectors, such as transport and heating, could provide flexibility when they move from fossil fuels to electricity. In this paper, the impact of a range of flexibility measures is assessed for the island system of Ireland, with a high share of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar. Flexibility measures studied include hybrid heating in domestic and industrial processes, smart charging of electric vehicles, renewable hydrogen, power to ammonia, peak shaving demand response and batteries. The novelty of this paper lies in directly quantifying the interactions and dependencies between different flexibility measures, with the objective of increasing the operational flexibility of an increasingly renewable energy‐dominated power system. Four different scenarios are modeled to explore this interplay between the different flexibility measures. The costs and benefits of several sector‐coupling measures. The scenarios have also been compared in terms of their influence on system inertia, renewable energy curtailment and non‐synchronous penetration levels. The results indicate the potential importance of electricity‐based heating in the industrial sector, smart charging of electric vehicles, batteries and power‐to‐ammonia, as part of achieving future targets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present bibliometric review highlights the qualitative and quantitative study on Energy System Models by scanning the Scopus database between the years 2000 and 2023. Utilising co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling from 1288 documents, the VOSviewer analysis presents meaningfully contributing authors, author keywords, nations, and cited references. Of 7930 keywords reviewed, the top keywords as per total link strength were 'energy system model', 'energy systems', 'carbon dioxide', and 'energy policy'. From 2014 till 2020, research areas like energy systems, energy storage, and energy transitions were studied. Results from citations of sources, organisations, authors, and countries reveal that out of 2491 organisations, 189 have a minimum of two documents for analysis. European nations including the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany lead in research on energy systems and power demand modelling. Future research will likely focus on 'electric vehicles', 'long-term energy planning scenarios', 'use of alternative fuels', 'power demand modelling' and 'energy security'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current conventional approach to determining the primary energy associated with non-combustible renewable energy (RE) sources such as wind energy and hydro power is to equate the electricity generated from these sources with the primary energy supply. This paper compares this with an approach that was formerly used by the IEA, in which the primary energy equivalent attributed to renewable energy was equated with the fossil fuel energy it displaces. Difficulties with implementing this approach in a meaningful way for international comparisons lead to most international organisations abandoning the primary energy equivalent methodology. It has recently re-emerged in prominence however, as efforts grow to develop baseline procedures for quantifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoided by renewable energy within the context of the Kyoto Protocol credit trading mechanisms. This paper discusses the primary energy equivalent approach and in particular the distinctions between displacing fossil fuel energy in existing plant or in new plant. The approach is then extended provide insight into future primary energy displacement by renewable energy and to quantify the amount of CO 2 emissions avoided by renewable energy. The usefulness of this approach in quantifying the benefits of renewable energy is also discussed in an energy policy context, with regard to increasing security of energy supply as well as reducing energy-related GHG (and other) emissions. The approach is applied in a national context and Ireland is case study country selected for this research. The choice of Ireland is interesting in two respects. The first relates to the high proportion of electricity only fossil fuel plants in Ireland resulting in a significant variation between primary energy and primary energy equivalent. The second concerns Ireland's poor performance to date in limiting GHG emissions in line with its Kyoto target and points to the need for techniques to quantify the potential contribution of renewable energy in achieving the target set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries plan to decarbonise their energy systems by increasing energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy sources (RES). Such actions require significant investments in new energy infrastructures. While people are generally accepting of these infrastructures, opposition sometimes arises when these developments are sited at close proximity to people's residences. Therefore, it is important to understand what actually drives people's preferences for spatial proximity to different energy infrastructure technologies. This study examines the factors influencing people's proximity preferences to a range of different energy technologies using a cross-country econometric analysis of the stated preference data from an unprecedented survey conducted on nationally representative samples of the population in Ireland, the U.S. and Germany. The survey involved more than 4,500 participants in total. This paper presents the data and selected results from a generalised ordered logit model for each energy technology surveyed. These are; wind turbines, solar power technology, biomass power plant, coalfired power plant and natural gas power plant. The results show that, in general, German and Irish citizens are willing to accept energy infrastructures at smaller distances to their homes than their U.S. counterparts. Moreover, attitudinal factors are found to shape people's preferences more consistently than any of the socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of the energy transition in Europe depends on the engagement of citizens and the sustainable replacement of conventional generation with renewable production. Highlights of the PAN European Technology Energy Research Approach (PANTERA) project, a H2020 coordination and support action, are presented in this paper. In broad terms, PANTERA offers a forum for actors in the smart grid to support the expansion of activities in smart grid research, demonstration, and innovation, especially in the below-average spending member states in the European Union (EU). The focus of this paper is on those activities of the project consortium related to the identification of gaps and barriers in regulations, standards, and network codes that hinder the sustainable engagement of energy citizens in the energy transition. The paper summarises the challenges to citizen engagement in the energy transit and considers the enablers that make the engagement of citizens viable, e.g., demand response (DR), renewable energy resources (RESs), and modern designs for local energy markets (LEMs). We focus on the barriers to the enablers that are explicitly and implicitly related to regulations, standards, and network codes and explore aspects of the relevant regulations and standards of the sample below-average spending member states. A specific case study of a research and demonstration project in Ireland for updating the network codes is also presented to demonstrate the ways in which member states are attempting to remove the barriers and enable citizen participation in the smart energy transition. Finally, the opportunities to foster smart grid research and innovation through shared knowledge and insights offered by the PANTERA European Interconnection for Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship (EIRIE) platform are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to further probe the influence of the emission factors of renewable energy on both the energy resource mix and emissions mix of the Irish electricity generation sector. Furthermore, the effects of external short-term disturbances on the same mixes are studied in relation to the generation of CO2 emissions. This paper explores the recently developed CO2 emissions pinch analysis methodology, which can determine the sector’s optimal energy resource mix, and then further extends the basic methodology with two new adaptations (improvements). The adapted methodology is designed to give improved and more realistic energy and emissions targets for renewables. These adaptations are illustrated using the sector’s statistics for the years 2005 and 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Site suitability assessments are at the heart of renewable energy planning. • A collaborative approach enables developing a fit for purpose decision-support tool. • Stakeholder-driven site suitability criteria supports transparent decisions. • The tool supports informed discussions and fosters consensus on deployment areas. • Data and technological limitations signal action areas for advancing practice. Competing land-use demands associated with planning for renewables is resulting in growing social and political challenges. Spatial decision-support tools are being developed and applied to tackle some of these challenges by facilitating systematic identification of suitable development sites based on technical, environmental and socio-economic criteria. Nevertheless, decision-support tools are often developed with limited input from stakeholders affecting participative and accountable planning and decision-making. This paper aims to address this shortcoming and foster greater transparency in the development of support tools for renewable energy planning, and thus in siting decisions. It present and discusses a stakeholder-driven approach to the co-creation of an online decision-support tool that attends to planning policy, technical considerations, environmental protection and social concerns influencing renewable energy planning decisions in Ireland. This bottom-up approach, easily transferable to other jurisdictions, fosters proactive expert input, awareness raising and greater comprehensibility and acceptance of siting decisions. It also enables developing an interface that responds to users' needs. The paper contributes to advancing renewable energy planning practice through effective and meaningful stakeholder engagement that supports transparent and accountable decisions from the outset. It also highlights ongoing data and technological shortcomings affecting the integration and operationalisation of stakeholders demands and needs, which signal priority areas of action to further advance the development of renewable energy decision-support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal energy belongs to the class of intermittent but predictable renewable energy sources. In this paper, we consider a compact set of geographically diverse locations, which have been assessed to have significant tidal stream energy, and attempt to find the degree to which the resource in each location should be exploited so that the aggregate power from all locations has a low variance. An important characteristic of the locations chosen is that there is a good spread in the peak tidal flow times, though the geographical spread is relatively small. We assume that the locations, all on the island of Ireland, can be connected together and also assume a modular set of tidal turbines. We employ multi-objective optimisation to simultaneously minimise variance, maximise mean power and maximise minimum power. A Pareto front of optimal solutions in the form of a set of coefficients determining the degree of tidal energy penetration in each location is generated using a genetic algorithm. While for the example chosen the total mean power generated is not great (circa 100 MW), the case study demonstrated a methodology that can be applied to other location sets that exhibit similar delays between peak tidal flow times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ireland has a target of meeting 40% of its electricity requirement with renewable energy by 2020. It is estimated that Ireland has a practical wind energy resource of 613 TWh, which is about 21 times the total electricity requirement in Ireland at the end of 2008. Therefore wind energy is worth pursuing, however many technical challenges remain as it progresses offshore, one of which is the foundation and this will be designed and optimised in this paper. Four different wind turbine (WT) foundations will be designed and optimised in this paper, which include the small-scale onshore, large-scale onshore, offshore monopile and offshore gravity-based foundation. According to the European Wind Energy Association, the foundation makes up on average 6.5% of the capital cost for onshore projects and 34% of that of offshore projects. This justifies the need for optimisations to be performed on all WT foundations to make wind energy more cost-competitive with conventional forms of thermal electricity generation. The primary driver in foundation size is wind loading, however it is also more desirable to locate these structures in areas of high wind resources to maximise the annual energy yield and consequently return on investment. Therefore a specific indicator has been applied for this paper to measure performance of each foundation in terms of its mass compared to the annual energy yield of the WT. This indicator is the energy payback time (EPT) and it is minimised in order to develop the most cost-effective and optimal foundation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper critically reviews and explores the impact of renewable energy heat policies to induce technological change in Ireland. It is in response to the challenge of better understanding the broad effects and attributes of renewable energy policy instruments in Ireland and beyond. Using the Irish residential sector as a case study, and analysing data of more than 31,600 technology installations under the Irish Government''s Greener Homes Scheme [GHS], the paper assesses the extent to which policy makers may be informed of the willingness of consumers to adopt these technologies in their homes. In doing so, it attempts to provide valuable guidance for policy evaluation in relation to renewable energy in the residential sector. It represents investment decisions and technological choice by the end user and reflects the growing concern among energy policy markets regarding the representation of user preferences. The overall intent is to investigate the implications of analysing different variables and their contribution to making more balanced renewable energy policies. It provides a critical analysis of the Greener Homes Scheme, the key instrument for implementing Ireland''s renewable heating policy from 2006 to 2010, established to induce technological change within the residential sector. In assessing the impact of the Scheme, attention focuses on decision frameworks for technological choice and the treatment of market and behavioural failures. It considers how consumers have responded to new technological policies aimed at deploying renewable heat technologies, and the specific policies aimed at advancing certain technologies over others. Through a case study investigation, the paper explores the relationship and dependencies that influence consumers'' decision-making regarding the choice of renewable energy heating technologies in the domestic sector in Ireland. Consumer preferences and their subsequent investment decisions, motives and technological choice are reflected. It concludes that while economic factors are important, a much broader variety of determinants is required when analysing the process of adoption of technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper quantifies the energy savings realised by a sample of participants in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Home Energy Saving (HES) residential retrofit scheme (currently branded as the Better Energy Homes scheme), through an ex post billing analysis. The billing data are used to evaluate: (1) the reduction in gas consumption of the sample between pre- (2008) and post- (2010) scheme participation when compared to the gas consumption of a control group, (2) an estimate of the shortfall when this result is compared to engineering-type ex ante savings estimates and (3) the degree to which these results may apply to the wider population. All dwellings in the study underwent energy efficiency improvements, including insulation upgrades (wall and/or roof), installation of high-efficiency boilers and/or improved heating controls, as part of the HES scheme. Metered gas use data for the 210 households were obtained from meter operators for a number of years preceding dwelling upgrades and for a post-intervention period of 1 year. Dwelling characteristics and some household behavioural data were obtained through a survey of the sample. The gas network operator provided anonymised data on gas usage for 640,000 customers collected over the same period as the HES sample. Dwelling type data provided with the population dataset enabled matching with the HES sample to increase the internal validity of the comparison between the control (matched population data) and the treatment (HES sample). Using a difference-in-difference methodology, the change in demand of the sample was compared with that of the matched population subset of gas-using customers in Ireland over the same time period. The mean reduction in gas demand as a result of energy efficiency upgrades for the HES sample is estimated as 21 % or 3,664 ± 603 kWh between 2008 and 2010. An ex ante estimate of average energy savings, based on engineering calculations ( u value reductions and improved boiler efficiency and use through heating controls), suggests a technical reduction potential of 5,676 kWh per dwelling. Equating this with the gas reduction in the sample suggests a shortfall of approximately 36 ± 8 % between technical potential and measured savings. This shortfall includes the effects of direct and indirect rebound effects, variations in ex ante assumptions and achieved u values and efficiencies for upgraded dwellings. The profile of household characteristics in the HES sample is influenced by the self-selected nature of scheme participants. Self-selection bias and other possible biases in the sample data impact on the validity of the comparison. Data limitations for individual households across explanatory variables in the control and treatment groups precluded corrections for these biases in the sample; however, the profiles of separate comparable data sets were used where possible to quantify the differences in the explanatory variables and how these might impact on the measured energy saving with reference to the relevant effects identified in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electricity generation from renewable sources of energy will be a key part in the development of future strategies for many countries globally. This renewable electricity generation will be hugely important for Ireland, due to its lack of fossil fuel resources. The extremely good wind resource available provides Ireland with the opportunity of generating vast amount of electricity from wind energy. Large-scale wind electricity generation reached 1264 MW installed capacity by January 2010 in Ireland. However, micro scale wind electricity generation has not been very popular in Ireland to-date. The unclear economics of micro wind turbines, under Irish conditions, is considered the biggest obstacle for expanding micro wind turbine installation in Ireland. This paper presents a methodology to accurately evaluate the economic viability of a micro wind turbine on a case-by-case basis. The methodology utilises the software programmes HOMER and Microsoft Excel 2007 for the energy and economic analyses. This paper also presents a realistic economic analysis of a number of micro wind turbines available in Ireland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper considers the existing law and policy framework for ocean energy development in Ireland. As a nation, Ireland proposes to have 75MW of ocean energy connected by 2012 and a further 500MW by 2020. This has been supported by various policy documents and Government initiatives in recent years. Despite the obvious Government support for offshore renewable energy, the existing legal framework presents a veritable barrier to development progress. This paper provides a succinct overview of the existing applicable legal regime focusing on licensing and planning aspects. Specifically it examines the realities of the Foreshore Acts, Electricity Regulation Act, Planning and Development Acts and associated Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and their role in wave energy development. This sets the context for a review of the problems associated with the existing legal regime, including delay and uncertainty, before presenting possible measures which may help address them. The latter discussion is framed within the context of developing and forthcoming European and national initiatives such as the Integrated Maritime Policy, Maritime Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Strategic Environmental Assessment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This report examines the metrics used to assess the job creation potential of renewable energy technologies (RET) industry to the economy, in particular the use of jobs/MW, and assesses the reliability of their use. Results were analysed on an individual country basis with particular emphasis on Ireland as a case study, and compared to other reports available in the literature. The wind energy industry was the main focus of the study. Other RET industries examined were PV solar, wave, biogas and geothermal, as well conventional thermal industries. Data for the calculation of jobs/MW for wind quoted in this paper was taken from the 2008 EWEA report “Wind at work: wind energy and job creation in the EU”. The results of the study showed that use of jobs/MW installed in one year is an unreliable metric, as ratios are sensitive to installed MW in the year of the study. This paper suggests that jobs/cumulative MW may be a more reliable metric. Unfortunately the use of both metrics is common in the literature, and it is generally difficult to ascertain which metric type has been used or what method they used to derive the statistic. Furthermore, ill-defined classification of ‘direct’ and ‘indirect jobs’ and whether jobs quoted relate to national statistics or include export can lead to confusion and produce inaccurate and distorted country performance comparisons. Alternative metrics such as jobs/1000 head of population or MW/million head of population may be more reliable indicators. It is recommended that some form of standardisation needs to be created in the use of such terms for ease and reliability of analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Interest in renewable energy in Ireland has increased continually over the past decade. This interest is due primarily to security of supply issues and the effects of climate change. Ireland imports over 90% of its primary energy consumption, mostly in the form of fossil fuels. The exploitation of Ireland''s vast indigenous renewable energy resources is required in order to reduce this over-dependence on fossil fuel imports to meet energy demand. Various targets have been set by the Irish government to incorporate renewable energy technologies into Ireland''s energy market. As a result of these targets, the development in wind energy has increased substantially over the past decade; however this method of energy extraction is intermittent and unpredictable. Ireland has an excellent tidal current energy resource and the use of this resource will assist in the development of a sustainable energy future. Energy extraction using tidal current energy technologies offers a vast and predictable energy resource. This paper reviews the currently accepted tidal current energy resource assessment for Ireland. This assessment was compiled by Sustainable Energy Ireland in a report in 2004. The assessment employed a 2-dimensional numerical model of the tidal current velocities around Ireland, and from this numerical model the theoretical tidal current energy resource was identified. With the introduction of constraints and limitations, the technical, practical, accessible and viable tidal current energy resources were obtained. The paper discusses why the assessment needs updating including the effect on the assessment of the current stage of development of tidal current turbines and their deployment technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines the progress in renewable energy deployment in Ireland set against the context of short- and medium-term renewable energy targets. It is said that the government paper on energy policy has published the targets for each of the three distinct energy markets, namely the electricity, transport and thermal energy markets. Based on 2008 data, it was concluded that renewable energy contributed just over 4 per cent to Ireland's overall energy demand, despite delivering 12 per cent of electricity requirements.

Tidal stream generation is a form of renewable energy that is predicable but variable in nature. The paper initially identifies the tidal resource around Ireland, utilizing the most appropriate and developed tidal energy technology, thus providing a potential magnitude and output profile. Methods of deployment and control, including the down rating of the generator relative to turbine size and operational output reduction, are suggested to reduce capital cost, increase the capacity factor and reduce the impact on the grid system. The combination of the potential resource and the application of control methods provide the basis to study the effect on the grid system in terms of ramp rate and the demand profile. The same inputs also provide the ability to analyze generator characteristics such as the capacity credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent national government policy in Ireland proposes a radical transformation of the energy sector and a large reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. Water and energy form the water–energy nexus, with water being an essential component in energy production. However, the connection between the production of energy and water is rarely made. In particular, the end-user processes are generally excluded because they occur outside the water industry. The present study includes two simple approaches for industrial sites to calculate their carbon footprint in the water sector. The assessment of the milk powder manufacturing using both approaches indicates that the combined emission factor of the water supply and treatment is approximately 1.28 kg CO2 m−3 of water. The dairy production among steel, textile, and paper industries appears to be the most carbon-emitting industry. However, the results show that the carbon intensity of the water supply and treatment can be minimized by the integration of renewable energy sources for the onsite heat/steam and electricity generation. The uniqueness of our approaches compared to calculations illustrated by the ecoinvent and other governmental databases is its simplicity and a focus on the main energy consuming manufacturing steps in the entire industrial process. We believe that the management of water and energy resources will be more efficient when "active water citizens" raise environmental awareness through promoting measures regarding data monitoring and collection, observed leaks and damages, dissimilation and exchange of information on sustainable water stewardship to public and various industrial stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comparison of short-term power fluctuations in wind and tidal generation. • A methodological approach to embed stochastic processes into power system dynamics. • Dynamic analysis of the system performed to compare different wind/tidal scenarios. • An Irish power system case study, including stochastic wind and tidal generation. The renewable energy currently generated in the Irish system is almost entirely supplied by wind power plants. However, in the sea around Ireland there is a significant tidal energy potential. This paper provides a comparison of these two renewable energy sources, namely wind and tidal, in terms of short-term variability and its impact on the dynamic behavior of the system. With this aim, stochastic models of the short-term variability of these two energy sources are proposed. Simulation results indicate that tidal generation leads to larger frequency variations than those that are caused by wind generation. The paper also shows that the inclusion of frequency control in tidal power plants effectively mitigates such fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the bioeconomy offers an alternative economic mode of growth whereby renewable biological resources are transformed to meet food, feed, fuel and fibre needs. Ireland however lacks a cohesive bioeconomy policy to guide this development. Drawing on a strategic analysis of the resource base in Ireland, this paper sets the scene for the development of the Irish bioeconomy. A number of case study opportunities are outlined, followed by a critical analysis of Irish bioeconomy-related policy. The analysis culminates in a bioeconomy policy illustration that highlights the number of competing interests in the bioeconomy arena, alongside the wider governance context that will influence the development of a comprehensive national bioeconomy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No single solution currently exists to achieve the utopian desire of zero fossil fuel electricity generation. Until such time, it is evident that the energy mix will contain a large variation in stochastic and intermittent sources of renewable energy such as wind power. The increasing prominence of wind power in pursuit of legally binding European energy targets enables policy makers and conventional generating companies to plan for the unique challenges such a natural resource presents. This drive for wind has been highly beneficial in terms of security of energy supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, it has created an unusual ally in natural gas. This paper outlines the suitability and challenges faced by gas generating units in their utilisation as key assets for renewable energy integration and the transition to a low carbon future. The Single Electricity Market of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and the British Electricity Transmission Trading Agreement Market are the backdrop to this analysis. Both of these energy markets have a reliance on gas generation matching the proliferation of wind power. The unlikely and mostly ignored relationship between natural gas generation and wind power due to policy decisions and market forces is the necessity of gas to act as a bridging fuel. This review finds gas generation to be crucially important to the continued growth of renewable energy. Additionally, it is suggested that power market design should adequately reward the flexibility required to securely operate a power system with high penetrations of renewable energy, which in most cases is provided by gas generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased use of renewable energy is a major part of Ireland's plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lessen reliance on fossil fuels, and enable sustainable economic growth. Two forms of renewable energy interesting Irish policymakers are bioenergy and solar PV. To scale up these technologies, land will be required to grow bioenergy feedstocks and erect ground mount solar PV arrays. A micro, farm-based approach is utilised to generate private returns from renewable energy production, and agriculture, adjusted for the cost of GHGs. This considers both the cost to society of increasing GHG emissions and the benefit of reducing emissions. This paper compares income that could be derived from renewable energy production with average agricultural income from the main farm systems in Ireland. The private (market and subsidy) and social (GHG) return from substituting renewable energy sources for the existing agricultural land use on 1 ha is considered. We also use input-output modelling to generate output multipliers for renewable energy technologies: biogas, biomethane, short rotation coppice (SRC) willow, and solar PV. The results show that the market return from growing 1 ha of grass silage and SRC willow is less than for all the main farming systems. When the social value of the feedstock is considered by putting a monetary value on displaced GHG emissions, producing grass silage and willow biomass can provide a better return to farmers than cattle and sheep farming. Due to the high land rental amounts available to farmers from solar companies, the market and social return is higher for using land to erect solar PV than any of the main agricultural activities. Results from the output multiplier analysis show that biomethane production has the highest multiplier while solar PV has the lowest. • Income from renewable energy is compared with agricultural income in Ireland. • Solar PV provides more income per hectare on average than all main farming systems. • With social value, grass/willow have better return than cattle/sheep farming. • Solar PV has lower output multiplier than biogas and biomethane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of Ireland's renewable energy targets requires an approximate doubling of installed onshore wind capacity by 2020. However, the growing accumulation of new wind energy networks in the landscape is encountering increasingly trenchant social and political resistance. This dilemma suggests an enhanced role for national scale strategic spatial planning to tighten centralised spatial control in order to more precisely steer developments to selected locations. However, to date the Irish government has avoided greater centralised coordination, preferring instead to devolve planning responsibilities to the local scale, which has resulted in highly disjointed and heterogeneous policy settings. Drawing on recent academic interest in the depoliticisation of strategic spatial planning, this paper seeks to interrogate why Ireland has adopted this particular scale of governance for wind energy planning. It is argued that the approach is a deliberate scalar strategy designed to disavow and displace a contentious public policy issue as part of a wider post-political management of dissent. In order to explore the opportunities for more repoliticised and reflexive scalar deliberation in framing national renewable energy technology and strategic policy choices, a structured review of local wind energy strategies is presented. It is concluded that by bringing a focus on the differentiated socio-spatial contexts of particular places, it could serve to trigger much wider political debate around the spatial challenges associated with the roll-out of onshore wind energy networks in highly congested and contested spaces, and the possibilities for alternative energy pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced numbers of online conventional generators, due to increasing shares of renewable energy sources, are increasing the requirement for a fast frequency response capability from reserve providers when a large infeed/outfeed trips. The commercial demand‐side sector, considering its size (MW/MWh) and existing communication and control infrastructure, makes it a potential valuable source of flexibility provision. Supermarket refrigeration systems are considered here as being representative of commercial end‐uses, with individual devices stochastically simulated under different ambient conditions, supermarket occupancy, food categories, and refrigeration performance. An aggregated fleet of supermarket loads are then created to provide a system‐wide reserve response. The all‐island power system of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, with a horizon of 2030, is considered as a representative case study. Three distinct demand‐side frequency control methods, including static, droop, and hybrid control are presented and developed within a stability analysis platform. Year‐long simulation results show a general improvement in the frequency nadir and (maximum) rate of change of frequency when supermarkets are providing fast frequency response services to the grid, with the likelihood of severe transients (frequency nadir <49 Hz) greatly reduced (82% improvement), depending on the FFR control design, and associated speed of response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to meet climate change mitigation and energy security targets spur investments in variable renewable energy sources. Their implications for the operation of power plants are frequently investigated drawing on unit commitment and dispatch models. However, the temporal granularity and operational detail these models consider is commonly omitted in the broader family of long-term energy system models. To compensate this short-coming, these two types of tools have sometimes been ‘soft-linked’ and harmonised for limited simulation years. This paper assesses an alternative approach. We examine an extended version of an open source energy system model (OSeMOSYS), which is able to capture operating reserve and related investment requirements within a single tool. The implications of these model extensions are quantified through comparison with an Irish case study. That case study examined the effects of linking a long-term energy system model (TIMES) with a unit commitment and dispatch model (PLEXOS). It analysed the year 2020 in detail, applying a yearly temporal resolution that is over 700 times higher than in OSeMOSYS. Without increasing temporal resolution (and computational burden) we show that results of the enhanced OSeMOSYS model converge to results of TIMES and PLEXOS: Investment mismatches decrease from 21.4% to 5.0%. The OSeMOSYS analysis was then extended to 2050 to assess the implications of short-term variability on future capacity investment decisions. When variability was ignored, power system investments in 2050 were found to be 14.3% lower. This might imply that energy policies derived from such long-term models – of which there are many – may underestimate the costs of introducing variable renewables and thus meeting climate change or energy security targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The utilisation of renewable energy resources for power generation is extremely important for Ireland due to the lack of indigenous fossil fuel resources. A micro-wind turbine is by far the most commonly used grid-connected micro-renewable electricity generation system for domestic applications in Ireland, followed by solar PV. Unfortunately, neither a single micro-wind turbine nor a single solar PV system can provide a continuous power supply due to variations in weather and climate conditions. The coupling of these two systems however can improve the power supply reliability by using the complementary characteristics of wind and solar energy. In this paper, a micro-renewable electricity-generation-system integration technique, tailored for applications in Ireland but generally applicable, is presented. Net present value is the parameter used to identify the optimal system. The optimal system can be a mono system, formed from a single micro-wind turbine or a single solar PV system, or a hybrid system formed from a combination of both. A renewable energy requirement is a constraint used in the integration to eliminate systems that cannot provide sufficient energy from renewable energy resources. The integration technique is applied to find the optimal system, under current Irish conditions, that can be formed from six sample micro-wind turbines and/or solar PV systems assembled from three sample solar PV modules. The analyses show that, with a 50% renewable energy requirement, the optimal system is a mono system containing a 2.4 kW micro-wind turbine; however, critically, the system is not economically viable. Four parameter studies assessing the effect of household electrical load, imported electricity price, exported electricity tariff and wind speed have also been conducted. From these studies it is seen that the most effective way to improve the financial performance of all systems is to offer a higher exported electricity tariff; installing a mono/hybrid system containing a micro-wind turbine in a location with a good wind resource can also have a significant effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is a growing body of scholarship on the enabling conditions for energy transitions in various energy contexts globally. Transition measures need to address the concerns of communities that will host renewable energy infrastructure. Despite this, the consequences of energy transitions at the community level and in coastal environments have not received adequate attention. The case of the Corrib Gas field development in Ireland provides valuable insights into stakeholder issues surrounding strategic infrastructure developments. Material from case study work with over 70 stakeholders in a rural coastal region in Ireland's West is used to identify the cause of disputes in energy governance. The study shows that economic development is strongly linked to the cultural fabric, not just of the country, but of the locality. Here, a lack of trust of those in power had an influence on the conflict. The appointment of a mediator as an honest broker was a tipping point towards diffusion of tension and an adaptive response by all parties. The establishment of a body with a mandate to evaluate the application of ethical rules, based on good governance principles, is suggested as an option for a refined governance model. The insights are relevant for the energy transition in jurisdictions around the world. Given the urgent need for decarbonisation and the potential for marine renewable energy, lessons from the past, as documented in this paper, can help to inform better governance of common pool marine resources. This is increasingly important for the industrialisation of marine renewable energy and the need to reconcile the interests of government, industry and civil society. • Understanding the cultural fabric of communities can help mitigating marine conflicts. • An honest broker approach is suggested to progress when entrenched views prevail. • Trust is a key principle of good governance to achieve successful project development. • Lessons from offshore oil and gas can inform best practice in MRE governance. • Informing better marine governance is a prerequisite to reconcile diverse interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes a model of the 2020 Irish electricity system which was developed and solved in a mixed integer programming, unit commitment and economic dispatch tool called PLEXOS®. The model includes all generators on the island of Ireland, a simplified representation of the neighbouring British system including proposed wind capacity and interconnectors between the two systems. The level of wind curtailment is determined under varying levels of three influencing factors. The first factor is the amount of offshore wind, the second is the allowed limit of system non-synchronous penetration (SNSP) and the third is inclusion or exclusion of transmission constraints. A binding constraint, resulting from the 2020 EU renewable energy targets, is that 37% of generation comes from wind. When the SNSP limit was increased from 60% to 75% there was a reduction in wind curtailment from 14% to 7%, with a further reduction when the proportion of wind capacity installed offshore was increased. Wind curtailment in the range of SNSP limit of 70–100% is influenced primarily by the inclusion of transmission constraints. Large changes in the dispatch of conventional generators were also evident due to the imposition of SNSP limits and transmission constraints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The utilisation of anaerobic digestion to produce biogas as an energy source is a mature technology in many European countries but is yet to be developed in Ireland. In 2009, the EU issued the Renewable Energy Source Directive 2009/28/EC which requires a 20% share of renewable energy sources (heat and electricity) in final energy consumption for all member states, respectively, including a 10% share of biofuels in the transport sector by 2020. The introduction of biogas to produce power and electricity in the form of CHP technology and biomethane as a transport fuel can help Ireland achieve the mandatory targets set by the directive. The key focus of the paper is to determine the optimum small to medium scale biogas technology and the impact the introduction of that technology infrastructure will have on renewable energy targets for Ireland. In terms of feedstock, agricultural sources such as energy crops and slurry offer a sustainable input to the anaerobic digestion process. The crop rotations under consideration consist of different arrangements of grass silage, maize silage and barley. Grass silage is found to be the most suitable crop for biogas energy production while biogas upgrading to biomethane as a transport fuel has the optimum technology potential in Ireland. To fuel a car operating on biomethane, 0.22 ha of grass land is required annually. Full scale national development of 5% of the area under grass in Ireland will contribute 11.4% of renewable energy to the total final transport energy demand by 2020, surpassing the target set by the Renewable Energy Source Directive 2009/28/EC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a weather window analysis of wave data from the west coast of Ireland in order to quantify the levels of access to marine renewables for operation and maintenance activities. Operating and maintaining marine renewables offshore requires suitable weather windows when devices can be accessed. It is important to quantify what the levels of access are off the Irish west coast, given its high wind and wave resource. Wave data from two wave buoys are analysed to quantify the levels of access that exist off the west coast. The general wave regimes at both sites are quantified. The levels of access at various operations and maintenance (O/M) access limits are presented together with waiting periods between windows. The levels of access observed off the west coast are then compared to levels of access observed at other marine renewable locations. The results indicate that the levels of access off the west coast are far below those observed at other marine renewable locations. The implications of these low levels of access suggest that maintaining wave energy converters, off the west coast, may not be feasible and devices will need to be brought ashore for O/M activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ireland is currently striving to source 10% of the energy required for its transport fleet from renewable energy sources by 2020. As part of the measures being implemented in order to help realise this ambitious target a number of Government schemes have been introduced to financially subsidise the purchase of alternative energy vehicles in an effort to achieve 10% EV (electric vehicle) penetration in the country''s road fleet by 2020. The replacement of ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles with EV equivalents poses challenges for grid operators while simultaneously offering opportunities in terms of distributed energy storage and flexible load. This paper examines how optimising the charging cycles of an electric car using DSM (Demand Side Management) based on a number of criteria could be used to achieve financial savings, increased demand on renewable energy, reduce demand on thermal generation plant, and reduce peak load demand. The results demonstrate that significant gains can be achieved using currently available market data which highlights the point that DSM can be implemented without any further technological advents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper is a case study which examines the finances of a proposed installation schedule of 500MW of a wave energy device type in Ireland. The novel aspects of the analysis were the modelling of the combined influence of learning curves, supply and demand rates as well as future cost of cash on the phased deployment over the 10 years. There are many studies which have examined the economics of renewable energy project installations, including wave energy. However, there is lack of research in the impact and implications of phased installations over time, especially when using a feed-in tariff (FIT) revenue mechanism. The goal of the study was twofold. The first goal was to assess the viability of the current Irish feed-in tariff within the context of a phased installation program for the wave energy device chosen for the study, and measures required to produce a positive rate of return. The second aim was to assess the impact of learning curve, supply/demand curves and future cost of cash on phased project installations. The wave energy device chosen for the study was the Pelamis P1 and the economic model used was NAVITAS, created by HMRC. The assessment was based on net present value and internal rate of return. The wave energy data for the study was 2007 from M4 of the west coast of Ireland, obtained from Marine Institute, Ireland. Results from the case study indicated that the high initial costs for the case study wave energy device had a significant impact on financial returns. Results of the case study indicate that higher tariffs may be required than the current Irish, static, nonindex linked, FIT to foster positive returns for future wave energy projects, especially if phased installations are considered, which are susceptible to future cash and supply/demand factors. The large range of sensitivity factors assessed in the case study demonstrates the vulnerable nature of these large scale projects when estimating financial returns. Further studies will be required to assess multiple device types, update initial costs for wave energy devices, provide reliable power matrices, as well as appropriate learning curve and supply demand rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Renewable sources of energy are anticipated to play a major role in electricity generation in Ireland in the future. Currently, electricity is mainly generated from imported gas and coal due to a lack of indigenous fossil fuel resources in Ireland. Solar energy is omnipresent, freely available and environmental friendly. The utilisation of solar energy to produce electricity has become increasingly attractive worldwide. However, solar electricity generation has not been very popular in Ireland to-date either on a large scale or on a domestic scale. The unclear economics of domestic solar PV systems, under Irish conditions, is considered the biggest obstacle for expanding domestic solar PV system installation in Ireland. This paper presents a methodology to accurately evaluate the economic viability of a domestic solar PV system on a case-by-case basis. The methodology utilises the software programmes HOMER and Microsoft Excel 2007 for the energy and economic analyses. Utilising this methodology, a realistic economic analysis of eight sample domestic solar PV systems available in Ireland is presented. Based on the predictions, the domestic solar PV system is not economically viable under current conditions in Ireland. Domestic solar PV systems still do not look promising even if better financial support is given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Abstract Ireland’s share of electricity generated from RES-E (renewable energy sources) is due to increase from 14.4% in 2009 to 40% in 2020. With this target predominantly fulfilled with wind generated electricity, the need for increased grid flexibility to facilitate this intermittent energy source is becoming ever more significant. As smart metering becomes available, demand side participation will be one option for achieving this flexibility. Using an immersion heated hot water tank as an example, this paper examines the impact that price optimised load scheduling has on the facilitation of wind generated electricity. To replicate real-world data availability, optimisation is performed using day-ahead predicted prices while the results are calculated using final prices and metered generation data. The results demonstrate a correlation between the day-ahead predicted half-hourly price of electricity and real-time wind availability. This supports the use of price as a means of providing an incentive for load response in order to increase the amount of renewable energy that can be facilitated on the electrical grid. Furthermore, various thermal storage efficiencies were examined for the device to reveal that as the energy loss rate of the device is reduced, the financial savings increase, wind generation increases, and conventional generation decreases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ireland with its resource of wind has the potential to use this natural resource and sustain the country’s power needs for the future. However, one of the biggest drawbacks to renewable energy generation, particularly wind-generated electricity is that it is an intermittent and a variable source of power. Even at the “best” sites wind varies dramatically from hour to hour and minute to minute. This leads to two main problems: 1) When the wind drops below a lower limit or goes above a higher limit the turbine can shut down and electricity is not produced. 2) Energy is not stored when there is an excess of electricity generated on site. Because of these problems wind power has a very low capacity credit and backup power is needed to handle the large fluctuation of production. This paper introduces the current energy system in Ireland and the targets that Irish operators are to achieve in the next decade. A review of energy storage options for Ireland is outlined including the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. It is concluded that a project similar to the Norwegian Utsira wind/hydrogen project could be piloted in Ireland and a site similar to Dundalk Institute of Technology could be used to demonstrate and test the system. Going forward to achieve high levels of renewable energy generation, similar distributed wind/hydrogen hybrid systems could reduce the need for curtailment of wind farms, save wasted energy, reduce backup power, reduce transmission losses, generate large revenue by selling power at peak times, ensure security of supply and reduce the need for costly interconnects to Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The deployment of biofuels is significantly affected by policy in energy and agriculture. In the energy arena, concerns regarding the sustainability of biofuel systems and their impact on food prices led to a set of sustainability criteria in EU Directive 2009/28/EC on Renewable Energy. In addition, the 10% biofuels target by 2020 was replaced with a 10% renewable energy in transport target. This allows the share of renewable electricity used by electric vehicles to contribute to the mix in achieving the 2020 target. Furthermore, only biofuel systems that effect a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with the fuel they replace are allowed to contribute to meeting the target. In the agricultural arena, cross-compliance (which is part of EU Common Agricultural Policy) dictates the allowable ratio of grassland to total agricultural land, and has a significant impact on which biofuels may be supported. This paper outlines the impact of these policy areas and their implications for the production and use of biofuels in terms of the 2020 target for 10% renewable transport energy, focusing on Ireland. The policies effectively impose constraints on many conventional energy crop biofuels and reinforce the merits of using biomethane, a gaseous biofuel. The analysis shows that Ireland can potentially satisfy 15% of renewable energy in transport by 2020 (allowing for double credit for biofuels from residues and ligno-cellulosic materials, as per Directive 2009/28/EC) through the use of indigenous biofuels: grass biomethane, waste and residue derived biofuels, electric vehicles and rapeseed biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is a growing demand for the use of renewable energy technologies to generate electricity due to concerns over climate change. The oceans provide a huge potential resource of energy. Energy extraction using marine current energy devices (MCEDs) offers a sustainable alternative to conventional sources and a predictable alternative to other renewable energy technologies. A MCED utilises the kinetic energy of the tides as opposed to the potential energy which is utilised by a tidal barrage. Over the past decade MCEDs have become an increasingly popular method of energy extraction. However, marine current energy technology is still not economically viable on a large scale due to its current stage of development. Ireland has an excellent marine current energy resource as it is an island nation and experiences excellent marine current flows. This paper reviews marine current energy devices, including a detailed up-to-date description of the current status of development. Issues such as network integration, economics, and environmental implications are addressed as well as the application and costs of MCEDs in Ireland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The energy consumed in Ireland is primarily achieved by the combustion of fossil fuels. Ireland''s only indigenous fossil fuel is peat; all other fossil fuels are imported. As fossil fuels continually become more expensive, their use as an energy source also has a negative impact on the environment. Ireland''s energy consumption can be separated into three divisions: transportation, electricity generation and heat energy. Ireland however has a vast range of high quality renewable energy resources. Ireland has set a target that 33% of its electricity will be generated from renewable sources by 2020 [I. Government. Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland; 2007.]. The use of biomass, wind and ocean energy technologies is expected to play a major part in meeting this target. The use of renewable energy technologies will assist sustainable development as well as being a solution to several energy related environmental problems. This paper presents the current state of renewable energy technologies and potential resources available in Ireland. Considering Ireland''s present energy state, a future energy mix is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent developments in micro-grids have led to increased interest in DC distribution due to its high efficiency in distributing energy from renewable energy sources to DC loads. This paper seeks to analyse the performance of AC and DC systems in a relatively large-sized 6 kW PV installation to determine the level of improvement in efficiency provided by DC distribution and to identify methods for further improvement. Baseline annual data for the AC system were collected from a live installation on a national school in Inis Oirr, an island off the west coast of Ireland. The results indicate that usage of a DC distribution system has the potential to reduce system losses by up to 50% as well as the ability for an annual saving in grid energy of 5% compared to the existing AC system. Moreover, the analysis reveals that DC outperforms AC distribution more in spring and autumn, when power consumption is comparable to the system production, but there is less impact in summer, when PV production is significantly higher than demand. These findings provide insights into the benefits of future DC distribution systems in individual buildings and in larger-scale micro-grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper outlines the past analysis and projected planning of the Irish electricity generation sector using an extension of a novel methodology based on a graphical optimisation concept. The main two adaptations/extensions to the current form of the methodology are proposed as both the forecasting adaptation and the extension that accounts for the dynamic nature of electricity supply–demand. The determination of an optimal energy resource (OER) mix (or optimal fuel mix) for the sector will look to give guidelines towards fulfilling the sector''s Kyoto targets, as well as yielding a possible approach for other sectors to follow in the future. Data pertaining to the sector for the year 2005 was taken in order to illustrate the analysis and forecasting procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present paper describes laboratory based development and testing of a range of biofuel oils for use in domestic space and water heating systems. Using traditional heating systems commonly used in the UK and Ireland, as well as a little used combined heating and power system, experiments have been undertaken comparing the performance and emissions characteristics of three non-mineral based fuels: bio-oils made from virgin rapeseed oil, i.e. rapeseed methyl ester, recycled waste vegetable oil methyl ester known by its trade name as UCOME and modified waste vegetable oil fuel, known as BP100. Results of laboratory scale tests are presented which show that biofuels can achieve good results in domestic oil fired heating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention should always be given to which reanalysis dataset to use when preparing analysis for a project. The accuracies of three reanalysis datasets, two global (ERA5 and MERRA-2) and one high-resolution regional reanalysis (MÉRA), are assessed by comparison with observations at seven weather observing stations around Ireland. Skill scores are calculated for the weather variables at these stations that are most relevant to the renewable energy sector: 10 m wind for wind power; surface shortwave radiation (SW) and 2 m temperature for photovoltaic power generation. The choice of which reanalysis dataset to use is important when future planning depends on this data. The newer ERA5 generally outperforms the other two reanalyses. However, this is not always true, and the best performing reanalysis dataset often depends on the variable of interest and location. As errors are significant for these reanalysis datasets, consideration should also be given to datasets specifically tailored to renewable energy resource modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time series homogenization for 299 of the available precipitation records for the island of Ireland (IENet) was performed. Four modern relative homogenization methods, that is, HOMER, ACMANT, CLIMATOL and AHOPS were applied to this network of station series where contiguous intact monthly records range from 30 to 70 years within the base period 1941–2010. Break detection results are compared between homogenization methods, and coincidences with available documentary information (metadata) were analysed. The lowest (highest) number of breaks were detected with HOMER (ACMANT). Large differences of break frequency were found, namely ACMANT and AHOPS detected 8 times as many breaks than HOMER, while the break frequency with CLIMATOL was intermediate. Also, the ratio of series classified to be homogeneous varies widely between the methods. It is 85% with HOMER, 60% with CLIMATOL, 31% with AHOPS, while only 22% with ACMANT. In a further experiment, all the available time series for Ireland and Northern Ireland, (910 series) were used with ACMANT and CLIMATOL to explore the stability of break frequency for the same 299 series examined in the base experiment. While overall break frequency slightly increased (by 6–13%), the break positions notably changed for individual time series. The number of breaks changed for 59% (23%) of the series with ACMANT (CLIMATOL). For the breaks detected coincidentally by at least three methods including ACMANT and CLIMATOL in the base experiment, the second experiment confirmed the break positions in 86–87% of the breaks. The consequences of these results in relation to the reliability of statistical homogenization are discussed. Sometimes markedly different step functions provide comparable good approaches. However, the accuracy of homogenized time series cannot be related directly to the instability of break detection results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2018, wastewater was officially recognized by the European Union as a renewable source of energy, thus wastewater heat recovery can be included in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Given the fact that wastewater treatment plants can generate enormous heat surpluses, this decision gives leeway to couple the wastewater infrastructure with the energy system in order to increase energy efficiency at the system level, allow for power to heat solutions in order to integrate volatile renewable electricity generation and, thus, foster a sustainable energy transition and cleaner production. Yet, the success of these system integrations depends on the availability of energy consumers in proximity of the wastewater treatment plants, and the temporal patterns of energy supply and energy demand. So far, the importance of both temporal and spatial variations in performance of wastewater heat recovery systems have been discussed in literature, but only as separate considerations to date. In order to exhaust the potential of wastewater energy, the combination of both aspects still has to be studied sufficiently, and this paper aims at filling that gap. A three-step methodology is proposed, including an energetic analysis at the wastewater treatment plant, a spatio-temporal analysis of supply and demand in potential supply areas, and an integrated analysis, overlaying the supply and demand profiles. This allows to account for both the proximity of consumers and potential temporal mismatches between supply and demand. The methodology was applied on a case study in Ireland, being able to clearly identify potentials and pitfalls for laying out grids and dimensioning the energy generation systems. It can be concluded, that wastewater energy is a well-suited source of energy to supply baseloads, but the spatio-temporal patterns reveal that both periods of excess wastewater heat potentials as well as additional heating in bivalent systems is required. Therefore, the spatial – urban and regional – fabric, the mix of land uses and their density, largely determine the layout and the useable amount of this renewable energy source. Finally, it can be concluded, that the use of wastewater energy provides feasible and valuable contributions for sustainable urban energy supply systems and cleaner production if the electricity sources for the respective heat pump systems are renewable guaranteeing low-to zero-emission operation. Image 10 • An integrated spatio-temporal analysis of wastewater heat recovery is proposed. • 5 zones, within 2 km of the plant, were considered as a heat consumer. • On 21–136 days, the heat supply was insufficient to meet demand. • 58 % to 93 % of all demand can be supplied by the heat recovery system. • The recovered heat did not reach its full potential, due to temporal mismatches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the move of Ireland to raise its 2010 target for electricity from renewable sources. It has increased from 13.2 percent as recommended in a 2001 European Union directive to 15 percent. According to the Irish Ministry of Energy, such move had become possible due to a doubling in production capacity in two years and a new renewables support system. A more ambitious 2020 target will be proposed by the Ministry in a forthcoming green paper on energy. It also announced a national energy efficiency awareness campaign for launch in autumn 2006.