nuclear-news

Building Irish nuclear energy plants ‘does not make economic sense’, Eamon Ryan,Green Party leader

Irish Examiner, 24 Sept 23

Green Party leader says the construction of nuclear plants would be too expensive for a country the size of Ireland

Building nuclear energy plants in Ireland does not make economic sense and would result in people paying even higher electricity bills, Eamon Ryan has said.

The Green Party leader said constructing nuclear plants here to bolster wind and solar energy production would be too expensive for a country the size of Ireland.

It comes after Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher called on politicians and the public to take their “emotions” out of the nuclear energy debate and seriously consider building power plants here……………………….

He said there has been “an explosion” in the rollout of solar panels across the country, with 10% of energy coming from solar on some sunny days in July this year.

“Also, battery technology is improving, and long-term storage is improving. So that gives you balancing capability and also interconnection…………………………………….

Interconnector with Spain

The environment minister added that he is looking at the viability of an interconnector with Spain “so if it’s calm and not sunny in Ireland, solar from the south can be pulled up and that’s much cheaper”.

He stressed the potential Ireland has to become a world leader in sustainable energy. 

“I think our issue will be probably by 2030 we’ll have a surplus of wind, about 30 terawatt hours, and how we use that surplus and store it to give us the balancing capability is going to be one of the big developments in the next 10 years,” he said………………………  https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41233219.htm

September 26, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Ireland, politics