A COMMUNITY-BASED initiative in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, has attracted the attention of German, Spanish and Taiwanese firms interested in investing in sustainable energy projects in the northwest.
The Drumshanbo Forum has initiated a three-part programme to develop the Lough Allen Basin Smart Energy Hub (known as Labs), focusing on training, long-term job creation and “lasting environmental benefits”.
It believes Ireland is in a “prime position” to become a renewable energy hub. Because of this growing sector’s “inherently rural characteristics”, particularly with regard to wind power locations, its manufacturing locations could be developed in rural areas.
Set up with the aim of attracting sustainable employment, the forum’s “core group” – an engineer, energy policy specialist, management accountant and local entrepreneur – sees itself as a model that “can be replicated all over the country”.
Elizabeth Muldowney, An Taisce’s energy policy officer and one of the forum’s members, said Drumshanbo was one of the few rural areas with high-speed broadband “surrounded by wind farms”.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be among those attending the first Robert John Kane symposium next month, named after the 19th-century chemist who inspired the initiative. Following from this, the forum will seek to develop sustainable jobs, offer training, job placements and attract companies, “in line with Fine Gael and Labour’s programme for government”, Ms Muldowney said.
A first course on renewable energy will begin in the VEC college in Drumshanbo in September. “This, and the links with Sligo Institute of Technology, will create a local, specially trained labour supply for companies . . . considering locating in the Labs Energy Hub,” she said. The forum envisages establishing the smart energy hub in Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Cavan, with links to Fermanagh and Tyrone.
Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte had told the Irish Wind Energy Association annual conference he was “looking at developing a regional approach . . . to facilitate cross-Border trade” in electricity and gas, she added.
She had also spoken last week to David Guest, chairman of the Green IFSC – based at the Department of the Taoiseach – who was “very excited about our initiative”.
See further details on the Drumshanbo symposium from April 27th-29th at rjkenergy.com
