Ireland | Bringing RE discussion to the Southeast

Through the Interreg EXPRESS project, stakeholders from across Southeast Ireland joined us in Kilkenny to bring a renewable energy discussion to the Southeast region.

South East Energy Agency was delighted to welcome these stakeholders from groups across the Southeast and beyond to the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny on August 30th. The gathered cohort (both in-person and online) discussed the current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for, and threats in the renewable energy space in the Southeast. The feedback gained from participants on the day will be invaluable in generating our first and subsequent reports for the EXPRESS project. It is our hope that these insights will help us develop reviews to ultimately help guide renewable energy policy in the region going forward.

The analysis from the day highlighted the strength in renewable energy potential in the region, especially in the form of biogas and offshore and onshore wind. However, costs, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of a roadmap to net zero (through electrification) are weaknesses in the region that need to be overcome.

The conclusions of the day find that the South East region’s renewable energy sector will continue to grow only with clearly defined, investor-friendly legislative frameworks. By converting to renewable energy, it would be possible to reach net-zero aims, but doing so would require sound political and economic planning as well as a solid foundation in law, money, and operating resources. It is crucial to have a balanced framework of renewable energy sources rather of focusing on one specific renewable technology.

The EXPRESS project brought this renewable energy discussion to the Southeast as part of the first report being developed on renewable energy policy in the region. The EXPRESS objectives are to increase the share of renewable energy in the participating regions, increase the energy self-sufficiency of the participating regions, and improve regional strategies to better consider the new energy sector operational environment to enable a rapid transition to locally produced renewable energy for heating, electricity and transportation.

To learn more about our EXPRESS project and to stay up to date with updates and news, click here for our EXPRESS Landing Page