Sir, - There is much debate currently about the shortfall in electricity supply capacity, as well as about the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which have already exceeded the allowed increase for Ireland under the Kyoto agreement. I am wondering why, therefore, there is no cohesive policy by the Irish Government that would encourage the production of bioenergy, which is the production of energy from biomass (organic material).
Bioenergy can be stored and used to produce electricity at specific times when demand is highest. This means a small process plant can be used to produce a relatively large quantity of electricity when needed most. This is already happening in other European countries. The generation of electricity using bioenergy is at least GHG-neutral and with some processes can actually reduce overall emissions. All bioenergy technologies produce far less GHG than producing electricity using any fossil fuel, even natural gas.
All the necessary fuels - wood and organic waste - are already produced in Ireland. Current methods of handling some of these materials are causing serious problems, because they are not properly valued and processed. It is also possible to grow special crops, as fuels for production of bioenergy, on agricultural land. The technologies to process the biomass are now available and proven.
If only 25 per cent of the animal slurry and manure currently collected in Ireland (Teagasc figures) were processed by anaerobic digestion, the bioenergy (biogas) produced could be used to generate 2,400MW-hours of electricity during the evening peak period (this is one tenth of total capacity). The process would also improve the fertilising value of the material. This is but a small proportion of one type of organic waste material that is currently produced and wasted in Ireland.
How could the Government encourage the bioenergy industry? There are many ways, but one low-cost approach would be to establish a rolling fund from which prospective plant owners could borrow at no or low interest. The repayments would be made from the revenue received from electricity sales. At very little investment from the public purse this could result in producing peak-time electricity, reducing GHG emissions, reduce levels of other types of pollution, reduce the cost of food production, lower imports and improve and maintain rural communities.
So why not do it now? - Yours, etc.,
Vicky Heslop, Irish Bioenergy Association, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford.