Sean Finlay (President) and Eamonn O Reilly (Chair, Energy and Environment Committee) appeared on behalf of the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Environment & Energy on 25th March to discuss IAE’s recent
Report on Rebalancing Ireland’s Energy Policy. In advance of the hearing, IAE provided an Opening Statement which stressed the need for energy security and project delivery, noting Ireland’s reliance on imported energy and the absence of any gas storage. Back up capacity for renewable energy is likely to rely mainly on natural gas, notwithstanding advances which may emerge from hydrogen and biomethane. Master planning of transmission and generation capacity is also needed which will require strong policy and political support.
A submission by Engineers Ireland dealt with similar issues while focussing also on the engineering talent needed to deliver Ireland’s infrastructural needs. The constructive question and answer session which followed was attended by ten members of the JOC and delved further into these topics while also discussing Renewable Energy, the possible role of Small Modular Reactors, barriers to delivery and grid constraints.
Pictured at Leinster House for the Climate Environment and Energy JOC from left to right
Eamonn ‘O Reilly and Sean Finlay of IAE and Damien Owens and Siobhan McHugh of Engineers Ireland