Galway Energy Summit

This day last week Gary Brennan our CTO had a very interesting and enlightening day at the Galway Energy Summit. He thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the panel discussion on energysecurity alongside Meadhbh C., Avril Ní Shearcaigh and Eamonn O’Reilly, moderated by Rory Monaghan. For such a disparate group of panelists there was one issue which united everyone and which was echoed from the audience. The policies which both guide and limit our regulatory systems are too slow to change and we are once again being left behind by our neighbours in Europe when it comes to the implementation of renewable energy measures.

Muireann Lynch from Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in the keynote made the point that the first major step to decarbonisation happened behind the meter, as the electricity generation method changed from mainly fossil fuels, but this required little behavioral change on our part. The next steps require us to not only change how we use this energy, but if we want to move to a fully decarbonised country and aim for NetZero by 2050, we have to be realistic about how we can get there. This means more renewable generation capacity such as wind, solar, biogas and being more accepting of these proposals. We are adding GKinetic Energy in there as she did mention the role of new technologies.

A huge thanks to the Energy Society University of Galway for organising such an important event which gives the opportunity for our next generation of energy pioneers to engage with industry, the citizens of Galway and the people who are trying to change the narrative on energy. In particular Pawel Gorski, Anna Connors, Cara Grealish, Michael Faherty, Caitríona NicDhonnchadha did a great job and thank you once again for the invite.