Help fight Climate Change
Electricity produced using fossil fuels such as oil, gas or turf emits CO2 (carbon dioxide) which is one of the main greenhouse gases that causes climate change. However, electricity produced using renewables such as wind power, solar PV, hydropower does not emit CO2. For example, each MW (megaWatt) of wind power installed in Ireland avoids the release of 2,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
It is not only when you use oil or gas to produce electricity that you release greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are released anytime you burn oil or gas such as in a boiler to heat water or heat your home. There is a renewable alternative to burning oil or gas in a boiler: a solar thermal system. A typical domestic solar water heater can reduce CO2 emissions by up to half a tonne per year, depending on the fuel replaced.
Climate change is potentially catastrophic for everyone on the planet. If climate change is not tackled there are very serious consequences for humanity and the rest of the planet: rising sea levels, droughts, flooding, water shortages, crop failure, famine, mass migration of refugees, and species extinction. Fortunately, we have a small window of opportunity of less than 10 years to turn things around and start to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Ireland has signed up to the Kyoto Protocol which means we can only release a certain amount of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, CO2) into the atmosphere. If we exceed our given limit we will be fined. Fines could be 100s of millions of euro or even billions of euro. Ultimately, moving to renewables will benefit the country as it will help us meet our climate change and renewable energy target while also creating jobs in Ireland.
For further information on climate change click here.