Events - Energy Revolution

This event consisted of series of presentations on creative and imaginative solutions to our looming energy crisis. Presentations were given on an electricity demand response system, energy efficient and renewable energy technologies, pumped hydro storage and dynamic lift sharing.

Demand Response

Electrical engineer and entrepreneur Jerry Sweeney explained some problems with wind as a source of energy. Wind is intermittent and fluctuating. For every wind turbine, there must also be a gas turbine to generate the electricity when the weather is calm. If many more wind turbines are added to the grid in its current state, there would be a surplus of energy when the weather is windy, meaning that some wind turbines would have to be temporarily disconnected from the grid.

He suggests three solutions. One solution is to interconnect. By connecting the Irish electricity grid to Britain and to Europe, we can export our surplus electricity and import it when we have a shortage. In 2009, Minister Eamon Ryan approved the construction of a 500 MegaWatt interconnector to Britain, which is now under construction.

Another solution is pumped hydro storage. Energy can be stored by pumping water into a large storage reservoir. When needed, energy can be generated hydroelectrically from the reservoir. That is exactly what is proposed by Spirit of Ireland (below).

A third solution is a demand response system. On the wholesale market, the price of electricity fluctuates with demand. Electricity demand is lower in Summer than in Winter and tends to be lowest in the early hours of the morning. By letting prices fluctuate on the retail market in the same way that they do in the wholesale market, consumers would be given an insentive to use a higher proportion of their electricity when prices are low. Mr. Sweeney explained that when electricity prices fall, fossil fuel burning plants are shut down. "When electricity is cheap, you are using renewable energy." He also said that the ESB should not have a monopoly on any kind of smart metering system.

Renewable Energy

Under new building regulations introduced by the Green Party, new homes must have 40% lower CO2 emissions (to rise to 60% in 2010) and a renewable energy source. We invited Carey Glass Solar, a company that specialises in Heat Pumps, Wood Pellet Stoves, Wind turbines, Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Solar Systems to discuss their products. The company sells both horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines. Vertical axis turbines are less noisy and can run at more wind speeds.

Carey Glass Solar can even install solar panels house without a south facing roof by installing them on the gabel end of a house.

When asked about standards for renewable energy products, Patricia Wywial explained that at present there is no regulator. SEI only inspects products it gives grants for. However, she believes that it is only a matter of time before the industry is regulated. Wood pellet stoves have had a poor reputation because they were often not installed correctly, leading to problems.

Spirit of Ireland

Pádraig Howard of Spirit of Ireland explained that wind as a source of energy is currently problematic in that it is intermittent and variable. Sometimes there isn't enough wind and sometimes there is more than we need. He explained that the U-shaped valleys on the West coast of Ireland would be ideal to use as hydrostorage reservoirs. Wind energy could be used to pump water from the sea into those valleys. A consistent supply of electricity could then be generated hydro-electrically from the reservoirs. Because of their U-shape, only one dam would need to be built at each valley. The excavated material from digging the channel to the sea could be used to build the dam. One such reservoir could store enough energy to power the entire country for two and a half days. By building a small number of these reservoirs, and many large wind turbines, Ireland can become energy independent in less than a decade.

Mr. Howard compared the Spirit of Ireland plan to the construction of the Ardnacrusha power plant in the 1920s. Engineers said that it couldn't be done and that the power would never be used. The project went ahead regardless and was enormously successful.

Mr. Howard said that the wind that blows over Ireland gives us more wealth per capita than oil in Saudi Arabia. The difference is that our wind won't run out.

Avego

Avego is a new and highly innovative technology, which featured in the New York Times in December 2008 and which recently won three it@cork Leaders in Technology Innovation awards.

Developed by an Irish company based in Kinsale, Avego allows drivers to share their car journey in order to cut their cost. Audrey Linnane explained how at present, most of the cars driving on our roads have three to five empty seats. Many people travel similar routes every day and could save considerable amounts of money by car pooling and sharing their journeys.

Using an iPhone, a driver can be notified whenever someone on their route wants a lift. A passenger who wants a lift can request one using a mobile phone or over the internet.

Avego is now being tested by UCC commuters. Many commuters to UCC are all too familiar with the problems of traffic and parking congestion, which products like Avego can help to solve.

Any student or member of staff who uses a car to commute to UCC can take part in the trial and try out Avego. See the Avego website.