Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has partially blamed low winds for the power shortage – even as his government moves to increase Ireland’s reliance on wind power.
Speaking in the Dáil this week, the Fine Gael leader re-iterated what we all know – that “there is a short-term immediate risk to the supply of electricity.”
He said this was being caused by “a number of factors, including those two power stations that are closed” and “wind not blowing as much as was anticipated.”
Leo Varadkar gives the wind not blowing enough as one reason for our energy crisis. Let's hope the wind gets a lot more reliable when it becomes an even larger part of our energy resources. pic.twitter.com/R75IAQfOxJ
— JRD (@JRD0000) September 30, 2021
“This risk will reduce with the upcoming return to operation of the two major gas-fired power stations and that is due to happen in October and November,” he added.
Now, as we’ve already covered on Gript, it should be fairly embarrassing for the government that, after closing two “pristine” power stations to meet climate targets, the country was immediately plunged into an energy crisis forcing them to reverse the decision.
What do you call a country that shuts down two of its power stations for ideological reasons, and then has to scramble to avoid the risks of electricity blackouts during the winter?
Stupid, says JOHN MCGUIRK:https://t.co/EfCPpV5I24
— gript (@griptmedia) September 21, 2021
You would have thought it would be common sense that before doing away with a source of electricity production, you might first check to see if the country can afford it. But that kind of forethought might be a bit much to ask from people being paid six figures a year from the public coffers to anticipate and deal with national problems.
Even after launching headlong into this new green agenda, the only thing saving us from being sent back to the stone-age is emergency gas power.
Regardless, one of the biggest factors in the energy crisis, according to Leo, is “wind not blowing as much as anticipated.” Which is true.
But this raises a serious problem for the government, whether the Tánaiste has realised it or not: the government is currently looking to heavily invest in “renewable” energy sources like wind power in the coming years.
As it stands, 36.3% of Ireland’s electricity is produced by wind power.
Wind generated almost 40 per cent of electricity used in the Republic last year but the industry is concerned at rising levels of “lost” power. https://t.co/mLfE0m3oi9
— Irish Times Business (@IrishTimesBiz) February 18, 2021
By the year 2030, however, the government is planning to source 70% of the country’s energy production from renewables like wind and solar power.
Investment in wind energy and update of national grid vital, Oireachtas committee told https://t.co/LkRG05dq1x
— Irish Examiner Business (@ExaminerBiz) April 27, 2021
Since today wind power accounts for 85% of Ireland’s renewable energy according to the Sustainable Energy Authority, that would mean that in 2030 around 60% of Ireland’s electricity would be coming from turbines – making us almost twice as reliant on wind. By extension, this would mean we’d be almost twice as screwed in the event of windless days.
You could have a billion wind turbines, but if the wind isn’t blowing, they’re just a bunch of metallic eyesores on the horizon not generating any power. The wind isn’t going to become more consistent or reliable just because we invested in more turbines – believe it or not, the forces of nature aren’t particularly interested in the agenda of Eamon Ryan or his program for government.
He may not realise it, but the government – including Varadkar – have totally undermined their own plan for energy, and signalled that whatever problems with power production exist now, they’re set to get a lot worse in years to come if these green policies continue.