IRELAND HAS managed to decouple energy demand from economic growth, auguring well for improved energy efficiency measures, a conference has heard.
Minister of State at the Department for the Environment Batt O'Keeffe told the 13th Annual Rendezvous of Energie-Cités in Cork yesterday that Ireland currently imported some 90 per cent of its energy needs, representing a high level of reliance.
Mr O'Keeffe said that Ireland's demand for energy had grown by 70 per cent over the last 15 years but this is less than half of economic growth over the same period, which had been measured at 150 per cent.
This demonstrated that Ireland had managed to decouple energy demand from economic growth, which would be crucial given the International Energy Agency projects a 50 per cent increase in world energy demand by 2030 and a doubling between now and 2050, he said.
Mr O'Keeffe said that as part of the Government's commitment to achieving energy efficiency and reducing Ireland's reliance on energy imports, some €200 million would be invested in energy-related research and development over the coming years.
Mr O'Keeffe, together with Mayor of Cork County Tom Sheahan and Mayor of Heidelberg and president of Energie-Cités, Eckart Wurzner, performed the official opening yesterday of the conference, which has attracted more than 200 delegates from 25 EU countries.
Delegates heard that Cork County Council - which is hosting the conference - was well on its way to achieving the EU's targets of reducing its energy usage and greenhouse gases by 20 per cent and increasing its usage of renewable sources of energy by 20 per cent.
Energie-Cités vice-president Alan Coleman, a councillor, said that Cork County Council was working diligently to achieve the targets set out for local authorities in the Government White Paper in terms of energy reduction and using renewables.
The council is currently buying 40 per cent of its electricity from green sources while only this week, it has signed a new contract to obtain 5 per cent of its fuel for its fleet of 900 vehicles from biofuel sources.
The council has appointed an energy officer to control its energy bills which are at €10 million a year but, with the establishment of the position and greater centralisation, it is confident of controlling its energy expenditure.