Ireland needs to harness its untapped resources of wind energy for environmental and economic reasons, according to Mr Adrian Forde, developer of the State's largest wind-energy farm in Tursillagh, Co Kerry.
"Many people are in good positions to exploit the valuable wind energy resources in this country," he said. Ireland has to tap in to its wind energy potential; we are too reliant on fossil fuels for electricity."
The wind-energy farm in Tursillagh, which was developed by Saorgus Energy Ltd, is 6 km north-east of Tralee. It supplies 50 million units of electricity every year to the ESB. Saorgus is also working on proposals relating to the creation of a wind-energy farm on the Cork-Kerry border.
The company was set up in Tralee in 1993 on a part-time basis and began to gain momentum following Mr Forde's completion of a graduate enterprise programme at the Institute of Technology in Tralee.
"The programme was very useful because it helped me with strategic thinking. People who start off in business often have broad business ideas which require focus."
Entrepreneurs participating in the graduate enterprise programme of Cork and Tralee institutes of technology are encouraged to develop the feasibility of projects before making any significant investment.
This includes the testing of prototypes and the building of marketing strategies.
Graduates of the one-year programme, in which participants receive 50 per cent of their previous salary up to £15,000, include the chief executive of Pulse Learning, Jim Breen. The Tralee-based elearning company provides custom designed software for training purposes.
It also has a 50 per cent stake in Topstudy.com, a website which provides education solutions to students.
Mr Breen was one of 15 participants in the graduate enterprise programme in 1999. He emphasises the importance of having a supportive network when you are in the early stages of starting a business. "It helps to be surrounded by 14 of your peers who will encourage your venture."
The overall networking potential within the group is also of great benefit. Current participants in the enterprise programme includes a successful business owner in Mexico City who has moved back to Ireland to develop a range of ethnic foods. Trials are being conducted in the bakery division of the UCC food department.
Other planned projects include the export of aqua plants to South America and the development of a ligament protection system for horses in the racing industry.
The graduate enterprise programme gives participants grant aid towards the development of their ideas and provides office space and facilities. The programme was developed by the Cork and Tralee institutes with the assistance of Forbairt, UCC and the Business and Innovation Centre.