The Irish Wind Energy Association is seeking a Government commitment to double the current target of achieving a 5 per cent share of electricity generating capacity for renewable energy by 2010.
This would be in line with the EU target of 12 per cent for renewables, bringing Ireland closer to the relatively high share for alternative energy in Denmark and the Netherlands. At present, renewables account for only 2.25 per cent of our primary energy demand.
Mr Paul Dowling, chairman of the IWEA, told a major conference in Dublin Castle yesterday that this would include a 40-fold increase to 1,000 megawatts in wind energy projects, which currently contribute just 24.5 megawatts to the national grid.
He said achieving such an ambitious target would require a change in the "mindset" of policymakers who still view the alternative energy sector with some scepticism.
He told the European Wind Energy Conference, which is being attended by delegates from EU and other countries, that the Republic's energy usage was already up 15 per cent since 1990 because of the current economic boom and was projected to rise further.
Overall, it could be 100 per cent higher in 2010, compared to 1990, while emissions of carbon dioxide, the main contributor to climate change, were projected to rise by 33 per cent in the same period, even though the Government was committed to containing this increase to 15 per cent.
To reduce Ireland's dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, Mr Dowling said renewable energy sources needed to be "fostered and nurtured" by policy-makers. He hinted that his association would be hiring a public relations consultant, funded by the wind energy industry, to "go after them".
He said there was still a bias against renewable energy sources. In particular, it was "not acceptable" - especially in the light of the contribution they could make to reducing carbon dioxide emissions - that they should be taxed at the same rate as fossil fuels.
He said Northern Ireland already had 30 megawatts of wind energy projects up and running - proportionately twice as much as the Republic's 24.5 megawatts - and he conceded it was unlikely that all of the wind energy projects in the pipeline would actually be developed.
He said there was still an "in-built bias" against renewable energy in terms of its financing, mainly because nearly all of the capital expenditure required must be put up at the outset. Accordingly, some low-cost finance - publicly subsidised if necessary - was needed to make wind energy competitive.
He stressed the need for a co-operative approach between the industry and the planning authorities in identifying suitable sites for wind farms. There was also a need to involve local communities, particularly on the western seaboard, to overcome objections to wind energy projects.
Mr Ken O'Hara, chief executive of the ESB, which is sponsoring the conference, stressed the ESB's commitment to developing wind energy in the State by offering "multi-million contracts" to purchase electricity from the eight new wind farms due to come on stream within the next 12 months.
He said the ESB was paying a premium price to the producers of electricity generated from alternative sources, in line with the Government's alternative energy policy. It would be offering the same terms to a further 15 wind farms which are expected to be built by the end of the century.
He said electricity consumers may even be offered "green energy" in the future. "The green energy package is proving popular with homeowners across Europe, even though their electricity bills have increased. Within a few years, a market for green electricity could be offered to customers in Ireland."
The Minister of State with responsibility for renewable energy, Mr Joe Jacob, said he recognised the "great potential" for wind power in the State, particularly in reducing dependence on fossil fuels. "We must now accept that renewable and clean forms of energy are the only fuels whose continued use we can sustain."
He said the latest alternative energy competition, currently under way, had been designed to ensure 90 per cent of the 100 megawatts in additional capacity would come from wind. The balance would be made up by hydroelectric, waste-to-energy and biomass schemes, as well as Ireland's first pilot plant using wave power.
Mr Jacob said climate change and global warming, as well as issues of sustainable energy growth, "can no longer be long-fingered".
