Letters

Responding to the energy crisis

Flexible response is required

Fri Sept 02 2022 - 00:15

Sir, – The report “Corrib owners look to extend gas field’s lifespan” (News, August 21st) has potentially some great news for this country. The report states that the gas field is expected to run out in the early 2030s. That’s quite a long time if we consider that greener alternatives are being developed, leaving the need for gas greatly reduced by then.

Although we are a neutral country, Ireland is suffering the negative effects from the invasion of Ukraine and the threatened termination of the gas supply through Europe to heat our homes and generate electricity this winter. This is a real and immediate danger of the highest order.

The good news is the amount of gas still available and the possibility of further reserves nearby. Government has the power to declare a national emergency in relation to the gas supply, instruct the Corrib owners to increase the flow of gas and organise the fast-track erection of adequate storage facilities to tide us over the winters to come. During war this storage can be provided within months, if the situation requires it. I believe that time has already come.

Yours, etc,

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BOBBY CARTY,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.

Sir, – I never thought I would agree with anything Michael McDowell had to say but he is right about the Derrybrien wind farm (“Nonsense on stilts to demolish ¤200m Derrybrien wind farm during an energy crisis”, Opinion & Analysis, August 31st).

With the country facing an energy crisis, to pull down a large wind farm would be the height of stupidity. – Yours, etc,

PETER McNALLY,

Skerries,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – If energy prices keep going in this direction, I suspect it will be a long time before we again read the words “electric” and “picnic” in the same sentence. – Yours, etc,

SIMON BLAKE,

Munich,

Germany.