Developing the Green Economy Making It Happen
Content
1. What is the opportunity?
2. Potential for the green economy in Ireland.
3. What is required to deliver on the opportunity?
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1. What is the Opportunity?
Global Market Expected to grow to $800 billion by 2015
Expect strong growth from China and India as they tackle their own environmental issues. China’s spend on RE double US last year
President Obama has very clear goals for USA
Massive investment in UK on offshore wind
Ireland
All Ireland market estimated at €2.8 billion (exc eco-construction)
Supports 11,000 jobs
Dominated by: Water, RE, Enviro Consultancy/CleanTech and Waste
EGS performing strongly despite downturn
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2. Opportunities for IrelandExcellent Natural Resources (wind and ocean)
Increasing levels of R&D
Strengths in related sectors (finance, construction, ICT hardware (sensors) and software, food, tourism)
– indigenous and MNC firms
Drive to reduce key business costs (e.g. energy, waste and water)
International reputation as a Green Island
Potential for first mover advantage from demanding international regulatory drivers
- including ETS; EU 20,20,20 targets; and EU target of 50% Green procurement by 2010 on public tenders
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Strong Potential for Job Creation
If we simply match international growth projections, there is potential to create circa 80,000 people in Ireland over the next decade
Where?
• Renewable energy sector: over 50,000 direct jobs by 2020 (source: Biopower plc)
• Eco-construction: 23,000 – 32,000 (IIEA)
• Waste: e.g. Composting and anaerobic waste: 1,500+ (InterTradeIreland)
• Water (no estimates available)
International evidence suggest that the majority of these jobs will be high skill – high value added jobs (i.e., smart economy jobs)
Must move quickly or be left behind. We have excellent platform to build on.5
Business OpportunitiesRenewable Energy –driven by the increasing cost of fossil fuels
o Ireland is one of the most favourable locations for wind (onshore/offshore) and wave energy in the world and we are close to key markets.
o R&D base emerging and convergence with ICT offers significant opportunities.
Energy Efficiency –driven by cost competitiveness pressures
o New build and retrofit (eco-construction), new products (advanced materials/appliances) and new services (energy management).
Waste –driven by cost pressures and regulatory demands
o Opportunities exist across the waste value chain.
Water and Wastewater –driven by dwindling global water resources
o Opportunities in leak control, monitoring and supply networks, and water analysis.
Other opportunities: eco-tourism, agriculture (e.g. organic farming, forestry, bio-energy, geothermal etc.), retail and leisure, transport, etc. 6
3. What is Required to Deliver on the Opportunity?
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3.1 Key Actions to Capture Opportunities:
Renewable Energy
Continued development of the electricity grid – domestically and international linkages to the UK/ Europe
Develop the ICT capabilities of the grid (e.g. smart meters)
Energy Efficiency
New and leased Public Service Buildings B3 by 2012 & A3 by 2015
DCNR planning national retrofit programme for industrial commercial sector
Energy-efficiency standards for buildings being progressively strengthened
Use revenues from EU emissions trading to fund State-backed energy-efficiency and green economy initiatives
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Key Actions to Capture Opportunities:Waste
Need to create a single all island waste market by removing regional waste regions and North-South barriers to trade in recyclable material
Create regulatory certainty in the market by finalise regulatory structures
Develop additional reprocessing capacity for recovered materials
Promote of composting and anaerobic digestion – brown bins for all businesses
Water and Wastewater
Shift public investment towards reducing allowable levels of unaccounted-for water to develop Irish expertise in leak control, monitoring and supply networks .
National market for water by establishing a national water authority and introducing volumetric pricing
Rainwater harvesting and greywater should be promoted
BER approach to control/regulate Domestic WWTP 9
3.2 We also need to:
Deliver Green Zones and a Green IFSC
• Create World Class Research Centres in Niche Areas
Remove Basic Hurdles to the Green Economy
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Deliver Green Zones and a Green IFSC
Ireland needs to develop green zones in order to create an environment that can support the development of green enterprise and be used to market Ireland overseas. IDA and others should lead.
An immediate opportunity exists to develop a green IFSC cluster and brand incorporating green investment vehicles, green fund administration, and carbon trading and associated professional services. We can build on existing strengths. An IFSC group is exploring the opportunities and actions required. IFSC clearing house group to lead. The IFSC group will report soon on progress.
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Create World Class Research Centres in Niche AreasAs highlighted in the Smart Economy, a key challenge for Ireland is to develop a small number of world class centres for research and development.
Develop a networked European Energy Research centre by:o Pooling expertise into key centres and creating critical mass
United Technologies European Research Energy Centre at Tyndall, UCC
Further develop our energy research strategy, and develop clear strategies for water and waste
Ireland as a test bed location for green enterprise activities to realise the full benefits from this investment - Smart Bay, Belmullet Ocean Test Site and Smart Cities
Consolidating the number of R&D funding programmes12
Remove Basic Hurdles to Green Enterprise
Address technical, regulatory and planning barriers that are delaying the development of renewable energy projects
– A lower capacity threshold for wind farms to facilitate inclusion under Strategic Infrastructure Act will be considered
– Exact spec of wind turbines for initial planning application - size, scale & layout now rather than exact spec
– Foreshore consents being modernised under DoEHLG
Action to progress the lack of progress on green public procurement (€10 billion per annum with a further €7 billion on works) being addressed
East – West interconnector progressing (€600 million)
€4 billion investment in Grid25
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Progress is being made in other areas...• Major inflow of funding for wave and ocean energy
– Major investment from world leaders in this sector
• Roll out of electric vehicle infrastructure and pilot study• Expanded Accelerated Capital Allowances for Energy
Efficient Products• New Bioenergy Scheme to promote willow and
miscanthus (2010-2012)
Ireland is ideally placed to be leader in Green Enterprise but must move quickly or be left behind
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