Whatever about the miserable June weather, investment in solar energy here may top €700 million by 2010, according to Mr Paul Kellett, of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Renewable Energy Information Office (REIO).
Mr Kellett, who is REIO's technical manager, was announcing details of its two-day "See the Light" conference, in Tralee, Co Kerry, on June 20th and 21st to coincide with the summer solstice, when the sun is at its height.
"Solar energy in Ireland should not be a myth," he said. "Contrary to what many people may think, we have an excellent solar climate, particularly for certain ground and water heating systems, and the solar energy market is expanding rapidly."
At current energy prices, he said the average Irish family will spend more than €40,000 over the next 30 years to heat their home. But it should be possible to cut that bill in half by harnessing energy from the sun in a cost-effective way.
Mr Kellett noted most residential and commercial buildings fail to make use of "simple, commonsense measures" to make use of passive solar design that could cut their energy consumption by over 30 per cent, at no extra capital cost.
"The sun is a very intense source of free, eco-friendly energy that will always be available," he said.
"Today, solar energy can provide cost-effective solutions to fight climate change and reduce our dependency on expensive and polluting fuels."
Increased use of renewable energy is seen as one of the keys to reducing damaging emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for causing climate change, and meeting Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Next week's conference in Tralee, which will be attended by leading European experts, will be exploring how passive solar design, active solar thermal systems and renewable heat pumps have been applied successfully here and abroad.
The conference will be of interest to anyone looking for solutions and strategies to implement solar energy in buildings, reduce energy bills and face the climate change challenge, including architects, engineers, developers and installers.
Sustainable Energy Ireland, formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was established on May 1st as a statutory authority charged with promoting the development of a sustainable energy economy.
• Further information on the conference may be obtained from Paul Dykes, marketing manager of REIO, telephone 023 42193, or by email to renewables@reio.ie
