Sir, – Henry Fingleton (March 2nd) questions the usefulness of wind energy in reducing fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions. We currently spend an unsustainable €6.7 billion a year importing energy from elsewhere. The Irish Times article "Energy options for Ireland" (February 21st) showed that there are no silver bullets as we face the challenges of securing our future energy system. It is important therefore that debate is based upon rigorous analysis of best available evidence and not assertions based upon partial pieces of data.
The exact impact of wind energy has been thoroughly analysed for our report, Quantifying Ireland's Fuel and CO2 Emissions Savings from Renewable Electricity in 2012, which shows categorically how wind energy avoided €177 million in fossil fuel imports and 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Without wind, emissions would have been 12 per cent higher. Instead CO2 emissions per unit of electricity generated are now half of 1990 levels, the lowest ever on record. The analysis took full account of all factors, including cycling and ramping of standby fossil fuel plants, so separating them out is both unnecessary and misleading. Indeed these effects are actually much smaller than Mr Fingleton suggests, a finding supported by many international studies. Growth in wind energy is one of the single biggest contributors to Ireland's CO2 emission reductions in the last decade.
The transition towards more sustainable energy systems is a global movement with countries as far apart as China and the US investing heavily in wind energy because it makes economic and environmental sense. Companies such as Apple, Google and Intel are demanding sustainable energy supplies for their worldwide businesses. Does Mr Fingleton really believe that they are all wrong? – Yours, etc,
TOM HALPIN,
Head of Information,
Sustainable Energy
Authority of Ireland,
Finnabair Business Park,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Congratulations on your excellent series on Ireland and energy. It’s encouraging to read a series of articles that take account of the scientific, political and social elements of a complex topic. – Yours, etc,
PM BEWICK,
Cork.