ASSOCIATION NEWS
THE AMALGAMATED PLUMBING & HEATING CONTRACTORS OF IRELAND – THE COMBINED MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS AND HEATING CONTRACTORS IRELAND AND HEATING AND PLUMBING ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND – SHARES ITS VIEWS ON CURRENT ENERGY CHALLENGES… Reality bites
T he general feeling among APHCI members at the moment is one of confusion and bemusement. On the one hand we are advised that we should get rid of our fossil
sun to satisfy our needs and more, but we are still some way from harnessing enough of this energy. The transition to a carbon neutral
decline into the future and as we can no longer rely on the Interconnector pipework in the Irish sea, we may become reliant on imports via shipments of LNG (fracked?) from the USA. SECURITY OF SUPPLY There are very strong indications that there are large untapped gas reserves off both our south and west coasts close to existing infrastructure. Surely exploiting these resources is the best way forward in the current climate, as it will provide us with the necessary security of supply and maybe a surplus to export as well as assisting our balance of payments and independence. It will also eliminate the huge energy inputs and resultant emissions incurred with LNG in liquidizing, loading, shipping, unloading and vaporizing for use. A large portion of rural Ireland is
economy is an essential target but unlikely to be attained in the allotted time span. In the meantime, we need to make the most of what we have. Natural gas is recognised as a clean transition fuel at European level, while the introduction of Hydrogen gas to the network will reduce and eventually virtually eliminate emissions providing a reliable and clean fuel
fuelled heating systems and change to electric
“The transition to a carbon neutral economy is an essential target but unlikely to be attained in the allotted time span.”
vehicles while on the other the Energy regulator and electricity supply companies are warning of potential power cuts due to a lack of generating capacity. We are all acutely aware that we cannot keep stripping planet earth of resources built up over thousands of years at the
current rate and that the tipping point is very close. We are lucky enough in Ireland that nature has, we hope, provided us with enough energy via wind, wave and
source long into the future. It appears at the moment that while a significant percentage of our gas requirements is catered for by the Corrib field this will
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