COP21 Paris agreement on Climate Change

/in

The Paris agreement on Climate Change is historic, but the text is complicated, and so what does it actually mean? Here’s theEuropean Commission summary. The Guardian  in the UK sheds some clarity on the high-level/macro meaning. This Irish Independent article outlines what was agreed by the 195 countries, while a second Irish Indo article examines the implications for the agri-food sector. And for those of you with time on your hands, here’s the full downloadable agreement from the UNFCCC website.

IrBEA move to Dublin office – DCU Alpha

/in

In early January 2016 IrBEA is moving from the current office in Carlow to a new base at Dublin City University Alpha (formerly called DCU Innovation Campus). While the Carlow office has served the association well, the new premises provides a more dynamic environment to explore opportunities for collaboration and communication, for example with DCU education, campus companies and with IrBEA members. A new phone number will be notified shortly. The new address is: Unit 104, DCU Alpha, Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11, D11KXN4

IrBEA response to REFIT3 Consultation

/in , ,

On initial reading it appears the REFIT3 consultation document (notified to Members in an email 7 July as below) is largely a house keeping exercise. We noted that no changes were proposed around the HECHP requirements, or the rates – responses need to be made.

IrBEA has prepared a draft response to this consultation, led by Nick Rackard (Aughrim Energy & Chair of IrBEA’s Grid and REFIT Group). Draft response is available here.

Renewable heat incentive – needed now more than ever

/in ,

Delayed Government policy is halting heat market development and job creation. IrBEA is lobbying for more urgent action from Government. Read IrBEA blog

Update on Energy Crops Support

/in ,

Eugene Hendrick (Department of Agriculture) Chairs a Working Group on biomass supply, and addressed the meeting Stakeholder Meeting with DCENR 24 Nov 2015. He reported that the bioenergy scheme, which has funded energy crops for several years, is currently closed pending a review in early 2016. A new forest-fibre scheme is also being assessed, which is looking at further unlocking of resources, and also possibly short rotation forestry (SRF).

Clarification Notice – applications under the REFIT Schemes.

/in ,

While the closing date for REFIT schemes remains as 4pm on 31 December 2015, in response to a number of queries regarding the status of REFIT applications but which do not include a copy of full planning permission and/or a grid connection offer or agreement, DCENR has issued a clarification. See details.

Keen interest at workshop on small scale AD – Presentations available

/in ,

Interest is very keen in Ireland about green energy possibilities from anaerobic digestion for farmers and food processors. This was a clear conclusion from the joint IrBEA-Origin Green (Bord Bia) workshop held in Kilkenny on 21 May which was especially targeted at larger farmers and small food manufacturers with high energy demand and producing sizeable amounts of animal and food waste. Read more

Report on IrBEA Biogas tour to the UK

/in ,

Sixteen people travelled from Ireland on the UK study tour at the end of June organised by IrBEA, including dairy farmers, contractors, food processors, biogas plant builders and others. Day two of the tour was at the UK ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association) Trade Show, the big annual flagship event in the UK for biogas. Read more

IrBEA submission for a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme

/in ,

IrBEA’s submission to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for an RES-E support scheme follows a consultation with members. This paper responds to the first stage of four consultation steps indicated by DCENR. IrBEA’s analysis covers a range of issues and concludes with recommendations. A short summary is included at the front end. Read submission here