In this article, Pat Smith, chairperson of the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation, expresses calls for a review of government strategy supporting heat pump technology.
We call on the government to immediately review its senseless policy of supporting heat pump technology while discriminating against grant supports for solar PV and battery storage technologies.
We are warning of the concerns of the ERSI on the massive 46% energy cost impacts of the Government’s heat pump policy should not be ignored.
The recent ERSI report on decarbonising through electricity reaffirms the fact that solar PV and battery storage are complementary technologies that will significantly address the ERSI energy cost inflation predications.
Yet, current government policy is set to reduce and eliminate solar PV supports. It has already discontinued a modest €600 grant support for battery storage systems in homes.
How can this make sense when the country is facing a massive energy crisis?
Support for solar PV and battery storage can significant avert the predictions the ERSI has made in relation to the planned heat pump roll out.
I am calling for a immediate rethink following the ERSI report. The government needs to offer more, not less support for solar PV and battery storage systems for homes and businesses.
I am calling for fair and meaningful grants that are easily accessible for all stakeholders in society to adapt solar PV and battery storage to help address the energy cost crisis facing the country and compliment the introduction of heat pump technology.
AD and bio-fertilisers ‘the answer’ to peat shortages
The answer to the impending shortage of peat for the horticultural sector is to establish a sustainable anaerobic digestion (AD) and bio-fertiliser industry in Ireland.
That is according to Pat Smith, managing director of Local Power Ltd – a supplier of renewable energy solutions to homes, businesses and farms.
He said that Ireland is once again an outlier in Europe with no real strategy or focus on creating a viable anaerobic digestion industry in Ireland.
He said this compares “very unfavourably” with Germany, where there are over 7,000 AD plants today. Meanwhile, France, he added, is developing a vibrant bio-fertiliser industry.
Read more on this news article.
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