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Ireland’s energy transition is being supported by a band of passionate citizens. But regulatory support and goodwill only go so far. Money and expertise are still required
Decentralised planning remains at odds with centralised operation
SUPPORT ON THE GROUND Local groups are eager to take part in sustainable energy communities
TIME CONSUMING Lifting local energy plans from paper to reality relies on volunteers who already have busy lives
KEY QUOTE There is a massive gap between a community's desire to put energy reduction and generation measures in place and getting there, especially for a group of volunteers who have other things to do. ...
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The haphazard way funding is distributed across the UK is making its energy transition lopsided. A public funding formula, like one utilised in areas such as schools, would help bring the advantages of the green transition to more areas of the UK, says Andy Hackett from the Centre for Net Zero
The clean energy transition must be socially fair for everyone, not just those living in regions that are heavily reliant on coal for fuel and jobs, says Louise Sunderland from Regulatory Assistance Project
As economic activity declined under the pandemic so did demand for electricity. Fossil fuel generation was squeezed off the grid by renewable energy projects with lower marginal costs. Fears that the higher proportion of fluctuating supply would destabilise power systems proved unfounded and grids remained stable. If renewables are to be tasked with keeping the grid secure, alternative mechanisms, already available, must be introduced soon
Without a European grid up to the task of not only meeting more demand for electricity, but also assimilating it from distributed renewables, green electrification of heating and transport is stymied from the start. Decarbonisation requires new infrastructure, yet the public is having none of it.
Clean energy technology is becoming more efficient and powerful, while more money than ever is seemingly flowing into renewables. But administrative barriers thrown up by red tape and permitting bottlenecks threaten to put a damper on the energy transition
Regulators and the wind industry are paying increasing attention to repowering existing wind farms to ensure prime wind sites continue to be exploited and renewable energy targets are met
Citizen activism is working to force change that is beneficial for all
The clean energy transition needs to be fair to everyone, with laws and financing to ensure the poorest households are not penalised by the switch from fossil fuels to renewables and benefit from the change, argues Marilyn Smith, Founder & Executive Director of The Energy Action Project
