Current and future perspectives on the

energy sector in Ireland

Carly GreenForest Ecosystem Research Group

University College Dublin, Ireland

Outline

• Current Energy Market

• Indigenous Energy Resources

• Future options for peatlands in Ireland

• Renewable Energy in Ireland

• Irish and European Policy

• Current and Future use of Biomass for Energy

Irish Energy Sector

Total energy requirement in 2001 was 14Mtoe

Total Primary Energy Requirement by Sector (2001)

Residential26%Transport

30%

Industry24% Agrcultural

3%

Commercial17%

Total Primary Energy Requirement by Fuel (2001)

Coal14%

Peat6%

Oil58%

Natural Gas21%

Otherrenewables

1.4%

Hyro 0.3%

Source: Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2002

Indigenous Energy Resources

86% of the total (electricity, heat and transport) energy requirements are imported

Indigenous Fuels (2001)

Imported Fuels (2001)

Coal 16%

Oil63%

Gas21%

Source: Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2002

Renewables

14%Gas

37%

Peat

49%

Area and Types of Peat

Area (ha) % of Total Land Area

Total Peatland Area

1,177,000 18%

Raised Bogs 306,000 4.7%

Blanket Bog 776,800 12%

Fen 94,000 1.5%

Area and Types of Peat

Area (ha) % of Total Land Area

Total Peatland Area

1,177,000 18%

Raised Bog 306,000 4.7%

Blanket Bog 776,800 12%

Fen 94,000 1.5%

How “raised bogs” are formed

Source: Irish Peatland Conservation Council

www.ipcc.ie

7000BC

1500BC

1000BC

500BC

500AD

Peat Map

Peat for Energy

• Small scale mechanical harvesting

• Hand cut for domestic heating

• 65000 t/yr

Peat Industry

• Bord na Mona (Turf Board) est. 1949– Owns 80,000ha (7%)– 40,000ha under production– 12,000ha in post production

• Harvests 4 million tonnes annually for electrcity production

Modern Fuel Supply

Ditching Harrowing

Ridging Harvesting

Pictures courtesy of Bord na Mona

Modern Fuel Supply

Tippler

Mounding Loading

Generating

Pictures courtesy of Bord na Mona

Life expectancy of resource

• Harvest removes 10cm per year

• Estimated 15 – 20 years productive life

Potential after uses of peatlands

• Wetlands 42%• Afforestation 22%• Agriculture 30%• Conserved 6%

• Renewable Energy Options

WetlandsPicture courtesy of Charlie Shier, Bord na Mona

WetlandsPictures courtesy of David Wilson, FERG

AfforestationPhotos courtesy of Florence Renou, FERG

AgricultureCarly Green:

Successful

No demand

Deep ploughing mixing technique

Carly Green:

Successful

No demand

Deep ploughing mixing technique

Renewable Energy Options

• 21 turbines with capacity 45MW Co.Mayo

• Trials undertaken in 1980s of broadleaf coppice

• Naturally regenerated or single stem energy crops

Renewables in Ireland

• 2001 contributed 2% to the TER

Biomass64%

Biogas7%Wind

8%

Hydro21%

Source: Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2002

Proportion by sector of Renewable contribution

(2001)

European PolicyEU White Paper (1997)

• By 2010 Ireland must supply 13.2% of national electricity consumption from renewable sources

• Government believes target is achievable

• 9-12% contribution by renewables by 2005

Irish Policy

Green Paper on Sustainable Energy (Dept of Enterprise 1999)

• Alternative Energy Requirement Programme

– Target: 500MW increase in electricity generated from renewables (2000 – 2005)

– Focus on electricity – Upfront payment options for investors

Irish Policy

Alternative Energy Requirement programme

Irish Policy

Alternative Energy Requirement programme (AERVI)

• Addition of

– Biomass (anaerobic digestion and landfill gas)

– Biomass CHP plants

– Off shore wind

Irish Policy

Alternative Energy Requirement programme (AERVI)

• Biomass Landfill gas 8MW Anaerobic digestion 2MW

• CHP 28MW

Climate Change

• Irelands Kyoto Target is 13% above 1990 emissions– Current estimates indicate 37% above

1990

• Promotes renewables and foresees them being responsible for reducing 1MtCO2eq of the 13MtCO2eq required

National Climate Change StrategyDepartment of Environment and Local Government,

2000

Policy Outcomes• SEI

– Renewable Energy Information Office– Renewable Energy RD&D Programme

• COFORD– Funded research– Community awareness on wood energy

• EPA and Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources– Research on centralised anerobic digestion and

short rotation coppice

Potential

Resource Practical Potential in 2000 (MW)

Short rotation forestry 2119

Wood Industry Residues 159

Forestry Residues 43

Agricultural Solid Waste 38

Landfill gas 18

Agricultural waste biogas 7

Sewerage sludge biogas 1

Practical Potential of Bioenergy generation in 2000

Source: Irish Electricity Supply Board, 1997

Potential

• Potentially 50% of the current total electricity generation capacity could be met by biomass.

• Long term renewables can practically provide 25% of total energy requirement

Cost of renewables in Ireland

• Competitive price 4.79c/kWh (7.9c/kWh)

Resource Price (c/kWh)

Biomass 7 (11.6)

Hydro 7 (11.6)

Landfill Gas 6.4 (10.6)

Wind 5.5 (9.1)

Source: Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2002

Bioenergy Projects

Commercial

• CHP plant in Co. Cork

Trial/Research• Co-firing sawmill residue and MBM at Edenderry Power

• Wood pellet heating project Co. Laois

Irish Forest Cover Map

CHP Plant Enniskeane Co. Cork

• Collaboration between Grainger Saw Mills and SWS, part funded by SEI

• €8million wood fired CHP plant

• Produces 2MW surplus green energy supplied to the grid

Wood Pellets

• Commercial heating with wood pellets Co. Laois Sawmills

• Wood pellet stove distributor and pellet importer

• Improved access to grid for smaller projects

• Promotion of bioenergy for heating• More demonstration projects• Monitored results, technical information

and support• Develop fuel supply systems• Carbon Tax and Carbon Trading by

2004

Whats Needed

www.ucd.ie/fergwww.sei.ie

Thank Youcarly.green@ucd.ie

FERG DirectorProf. Edward P. Farrell ted.farrell@ucd.ie

Peatland ForestryFlorence Renou florence.renou@ucd.ieBOGFOR Project Manager

Minna Pollanen minna.pollenen@ucd.ie

Wetland EcosystemsDavid Wilson david.g.wilson@ucd.ie

Bioenergy and Carbon AccountingDr Kenneth A. Byrne kbyrne@ucc.ieCarly Green carly.green@ucd.ieGustavio Saiz gustavio.saiz@ucd.ie

CONTACTS

www.ucd.ie/ferg