Limerick Clare Energy Plan: Energy and Emissions Balance 2010 and 2020

David Connolly, Brian Vad Mathiesen, Xavier Dubuisson, Kenneth Hansen, Henrik Lund, Paddy Finn, Joe Hodgins

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Abstract

Considering the security of supply concerns relating to the Irish energy system at present and the significant renewable energy resource available, many initiatives and policies have been developed to encourage the transition to renewable energy. These objectives are almost exclusively set at a national level, but they need to be supplemented by local plans also, since the most successful renewable energy projects to date are at a local level. For example, it is evident from the transition to renewable energy in Denmark, that 100% renewable energy systems can already be implemented at a local level. Hence, by initiating local action, national targets can be met and exceeded, while also creating a template for a wider transition to renewable energy. Accordingly, the primary goal of the project is:
To develop a local energy plan for Limerick and Clare which is based on a quantified assessment of different sustainable energy measures, in terms of costs, fuel, and carbon dioxide emissions.
The project has been subdivided into two sections: the Energy & Emissions Balance and the Climate Change Strategy. In this report, the Energy & Emissions Balance, the key goal is to develop a local energy balance for the Limerick Clare Region (LCR), which can subsequently be used in the Climate Change Strategy.
This report includes a review of existing legislation which affects the LCR at EU, national, regional, and local level. In addition, other local energy balances in Ireland are assessed to establish the different methodologies currently utilised in Ireland for local energy balances. From this review, the key difference identified is the use of a top-down or a bottom-up approach. Typically large areas with more than 10,000 inhabitants use a top-down approach to create an energy balance whereas smaller areas use a bottom-up approach based on actual energy consumption data. For the LCR, it was concluded that a top-down approach would therefore be the most suitable.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages112
ISBN (Print)978-87-91404-33-7
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

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