Three-quarters of Ireland’s top engineers believe the "green economy" will drive Ireland’s economic future, according to new research commissioned by Engineers Ireland.
The survey of more than 400 engineers, carried out by Ipsos MRBI, also found 32 per cent of engineers see sustainable energy as the area where engineers can make the biggest contribution.
Speaking at an energy workshop for primary school students as part of Engineers' Week, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan TD said Ireland has a natural advantage in terms of wind, wave and tidal power.
“The challenge now is to develop the technologies to harness these resources. This has the dual benefit of boosting our self-sufficiency with regards to energy generation as well as developing cutting-edge technologies that we can export across the globe,” he said.
Engineers Ireland director general John Power said people have traditionally associated engineering purely with construction. “But there are jobs and career possibilities fast emerging for engineers across the green sector as can be clearly exemplified by the activities of the companies we have here today.” Openhydro, Wavebob, EirGid and Servusnet were among the companies present to mark Enery Innovation Day as part of the Engineers' Week.
He maintained the conversion to green energy alone would provide many opportunities for engineers in the future.
Speaking to The Irish Times at Engineers' Week, a nationwide series of over 150 events promoting engineering as a career, Mr Power said engineers will play a key role in Ireland's economic development.
Investment in education, infrastructure and commercialisation of research and development would play a significant part in ensuring engineers were instrumental to Ireland’s economic recovery, he said.