Irelands wind energy sector could employ 10,000 by end of decade

By Jennifer Hough
Saturday, March 24, 2012

Irelands wind energy sector has the potential to employ more than 10,000 people by the end of the decade, when the country is set to become an energy exporter. Ireland imports 6bn worth of energy, but by the end of the decade will export about 1bn a 7bn swing according to the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA). The sector employs 2,000 people across a variety of sectors, from construction and maintenance to legal and financial services. This is expected to reach 10,700 by 2020. The IWEA held a two- day conference this week, outlining Irelands future in the sector and launching best practice guidelines which seek to position Ireland as an industry leader as the EU moves towards a single energy market. Association chief Kenneth Matthews said the next decade would see significant changes in the energy landscape, both at national and regional level, and Ireland needed to be well positioned to embrace and adapt to these changes. "The Government is currently negotiating a bilateral energy trade agreement with the UK, which will allow Ireland to export surplus wind energy to match the needs of the British market. Ireland, the UK and France aim to form a common energy market by 2014, with the ultimate aim of creating a single, EU-wide energy market by 2020." At the conference Pat Rabbitte, the energy minister, said the European Commission had identified a pivotal role for renewable energy in "de-carbonising" the European economy. The EUs energy 2050 roadmap sets out a number of scenarios for developing a de-carbonised energy sector. Under each scenario a significant increase is required in renewable energy deployment in Europe, well above 2020 targets. Mr Rabbitte said: "This is not simply about meeting a small percentage of our energy from renewable sources, but moving to a situation where renewable technologies rather than fossil fuels will be the norm for electricity generation in particular."