Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton and Irish Wind Energy Association chief executive David Connolly have launched a campaign highlighting the role that wind power is playing in the fight against climate change.
The campaign will see posters appear on 45 billboards and bus shelters over the next two weeks in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Westmeath.
Connolly (pictured, left) said: “Climate change is the single greatest challenge of our time and the responsibility of meeting it belongs to each of us.
“Our billboard campaign is highlighting the role wind energy has played in leading the move away from fossil fuels and towards clean, renewable, electricity. The more wind energy we use, the fewer our CO2 emissions.”
IWEA said a recent report by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) found that in 2017 wind energy was responsible for avoiding 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
It added that in December the Environmental Protection Agency announced that a 21% increase in electricity generated by wind in 2017 was largely responsible for a fall in CO2 emissions in the energy sector.
The growth of wind energy means that the CO2 emissions intensity of electricity generation – the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of energy produced – is now at its lowest level on record, IWEA said.
Connolly added: “Wind energy is the cleanest and cheapest source of renewable electricity in Ireland. Last year we provided 29% of Ireland’s electricity but that is not enough. Ireland must do better.
“We know that wind, with other renewables like solar and biogas, alongside battery technology and greater interconnection, can provide 70% of our electricity by 2030.
“This target is supported across the renewable energy sector and we hope Minister Bruton will endorse it in the climate action plan he will publish shortly.
“With the right leadership we can be ambitious for Ireland’s energy future and for our role in the fight against climate change.”